Nottingham, Jul 11 (IANS): Dawid Malan smashed a fine 77 off 39 balls, laced with six fours and five sixes, as England posted a gigantic 215/7 in their 20 overs against India in the third T20I at Trent Bridge on Sunday.

Apart from Malan, Liam Livingstone chipped in with an unbeaten 42, backed by four sixes as England posted their highest T20I total against India. For the visitors, leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi and pacer Harshal Patel picked two wickets each while young fast bowling duo of Avesh Khan and Umran Malik took a wicket apiece.

Electing to bat first, Jos Buttler began by smashing Malik for two boundaries through the off-side, sandwiched between a huge six pulled over deep mid-wicket. From the other end, Jason Roy put his struggles away by slog-sweeping his 12th ball over square-leg boundary for six off Bishnoi.

Just as Buttler looked set for a big knock, he dragged a slower length ball from Avesh to his stumps, falling for 18. Roy then welcomed Ravindra Jadeja with a six down the ground, followed by a short-arm jab clearing mid-on for a boundary.

India almost had their second wicket of power-play had Malan not been dropped by Patel off his own bowling. But Malik got Roy out in his second over, forcing him to slash wide of off-stump and extra bounce took a nick behind to Rishabh Pant.

The pace-off strategy worked again when Patel completely bamboozled Phil Salt, knocking his off-stump with a dipping slower low full toss. Malan continued to chip away despite the loss of wickets, slog-sweeping Bishnoi off a no-ball for boundary.

He followed it up by cutting Jadeja through cover for a boundary and then swinging high over square leg for a six. Malan brought up his 12th T20I fifty with a brace off Malik and then hit the tearaway pacer for successive boundaries - a pull over mid-on for boundary was followed by carving high over cover-point for six.

Malan and Livingstone hit Avesh for a six each in the leg-side before the former smacked Jadeja for another six, slogged down the ground. Livingstone made merry by dispatching Patel for back-to-back sixes on full tosses over fine leg. Bishnoi ended Malan's stay at 77 in the 17th over as the top-edge was grabbed easily by Pant.

One brought two for Bishnoi as Moeen Ali fell for a golden duck, with the leading edge on slog snapped by point. Livingstone and Harry Brook hit three boundaries, including off a no-ball, to take 21 off Avesh's final over. Livingstone was given a reprieve at 36 when Virat Kohli dropped a catch at deep mid-wicket off Patel.

But the pacer had his second wicket on the fifth ball of 19th over when Brook pulled, only for the top-edge to be taken by deep mid-wicket. Chris Jordan took successive boundaries off Malik before being run out on the final ball as England crossed 200-mark.

Brief Scores: England 215/7 in 20 overs (Dawid Malan 77, Liam Livingstone 42 not out; Ravi Bishnoi 2/30, Harshal Patel 2/35) against India