Pune/IBNS: Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube slammed 53 each to power India to a formidable total of 181/9 in 20 overs in the fourth T20I match against England in Pune on Friday.

Pandya and Dube stitched a partnership of 87 runs for the sixth wicket to rescue India from 79-5.

The two batters put up an exhibition of power hits across the ground to deny England an opportunity to wrap up the hosts cheaply.

Pandya slammed four fours and an equal number of sixes to score 53 from 30 balls while Dube hit seven fours and two sixes until England ran him out in the final ball of the innings.

Dube took 34 balls to score 53 in a match where India kept on losing wickets at regular intervals despite breezy knocks by Abhishek Sharma (29) and Rinku Singh (30) in early overs.

Saqib Mahmood was the top bowler for England with a figure of 3/35 in four overs.

Adil Rashid and Brydon Carse picked the important wickets of Abhishek and Rinku respectively.

England need to win the match to equalise the five-match series.