Tilak Varma’s superb unbeaten 72 led India to a thrilling two-wicket victory over England as they chased down 166 to win the second T20 international in Chennai.

England posted 165-9 after being put in to bat and looked to be on course for victory as they reduced India to 78-5 and then 126-7, but Tilak’s brilliant 55-ball knock saw the hosts home with four balls to spare to give them a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

Tilak’s only significant support came from Washington Sundar (26), as superb bowling from Brydon Carse (3-29) and Adil Rashid (1-14) was undone by Jofra Archer (1-60) proving extremely expensive.

England had earlier set a competitive total after captain Jos Buttler (45) top scored for a second successive game, with Carse’s cameo of 31 from 17 balls ensuring the tourists improved on their feeble effort in the series opener.

But Tilak continued his stunning form as he remarkably completed a fourth successive T20 international innings without being dismissed, following back-to-back centuries against South Africa in November last year and an unbeaten 19 against England on Wednesday.

India will have the opportunity to secure a series victory when the sides meet again for the third game of the series in Rajkot on Tuesday.

Buttler top scores for faltering England again

There was a feeling of déjà vu as England, having lost the toss and been put in to bat for a second successive game, lost both openers early.

Phil Salt hit a boundary from the first ball of the innings but failed to survive the opening over, as he was caught on the boundary by Washington Sundar attempting to hook a very short Arshdeep Singh delivery.

Buttler, still appearing to be in the fine form he had shown in the series opener, responded by hitting three boundaries from the third over, including a six back down the ground but the momentum was halted as Duckett was dismissed from the first ball of the following over, as his reverse sweep deflected off his pad into the air to give Washington an instant wicket.

England remained aggressive but wickets continued to fall, with Brook only able to smile at the genius of his opponent as Varun bowled him through the gate.

India got the wicket they craved most as Buttler went for one big hit too many and sent Axar’s delivery straight into the hands of Tilak on the boundary.

The pattern continued as Liam Livingstone fell in similar fashion in Axar’s next over, leaving England 90-5. Jamie Smith, making his T20 international debut in place of an unwell Jacob Bethell, used his feet well in a fluent knock of 22 before being caught on the long-off boundary off Abhishek Sharma.

Carse then produced what would turn out to be a crucial cameo, hitting three sixes to set England on their way to a competitive total.

England’s sudden surge of momentum was once more eradicated by two wickets in two balls, as Overton was deceived by a Varun googly, before Carse was calamitously run out after a mix up with Jofra Archer.

Left on 137-8 with 23 balls still remaining, England played sensibly to see out the innings, with Archer (12 no), Rashid (10) and Mark Wood (5 no) steering them to a score that provided hope.

Tilak snatches victory away from England

India made a flying start to their chase as Abhishek hit Archer for three boundaries in the opening six balls, but he was then out lbw to Wood in the second over.

England’s comeback continued in the third over as Archer beat Samson for pace with a short delivery, setting up a simple catch for Carse in the leg-side, and bringing Tilak to the crease.

He shared a stand of 39 with India captain Suryakumar Yadav, but Carse’s superb game continued as he forced the skipper to play onto his own stumps.

Carse soon claimed another wicket as he had Dhruv Juvel caught, before Jamie Overton removed Hardik Pandya with his first ball to leave India 78-5 in the 10th over.

The high point of India’s first fightback came as they took 18 runs as Wood bowled the 13th over, with Rashid putting down a simple chance to dismiss Washington before he struck three successive boundaries.

England looked to have recovered as Carse bowled Washington in the following over, before Liam Livingstone had Axar caught on the boundary to leave India on 126-7 at the end of the 15th over.

Tilak responded by hitting Archer for successive sixes as India scored 19 from the over to get back into the mix, but Arshdeep inexplicably gave his wicket away to Adil Rashid in the next over to leave the game in the balance, with India needing 20 from 18 balls at 146-8.

Tilak scored three runs from the first four balls of the penultimate over, but it was new partner Bishnoi who scored a crucial boundary to put India on the brink.

With six needed from the final over, it was Tilak who appropriately finished the job, driving through the covers to leave England wondering how victory had escaped them.

England in India – results and fixtures

All times UK and Ireland

• First T20: Wednesday January 22 – Eden Gardens, Kolkata – India won by seven wickets
• Second T20: Saturday January 25 – MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai – India won by two wickets
• Third T20: Tuesday January 28 (1.30pm) – Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot
• Fourth T20: Friday January 31 (1.30pm) – Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune
• Fifth T20: Sunday February 2 (1.30pm) – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

• First ODI: Thursday February 6 (8am) – Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur
• Second ODI: Sunday February 9 (8am) – Barabati Stadium, Cuttack
• Third ODI: Wednesday February 12 (8am) – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

Who will win the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy? Watch every match from February 19-March 9 exclusively live on Sky Sports. Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW.