Bethell's blistering fifty seals England's victory
Jacob Bethell played a match-winning innings of 76 off 46 balls, including five fours and sixes each, to guide England to a four-wicket victory over India in the second T20I at Old Trafford in Manchester on Saturday. The win gave England a 1-0 lead in the five-match series after the first match was abandoned due to rain.
Chasing a target of 191, England's innings began disastrously as India's pace spearhead Arshdeep Singh struck with the very first ball, dismissing Phil Salt for a duck. He followed it up by removing Jos Buttler, also for a duck, leaving England reeling at 1/2.
Brook and Bethell counterattack
Harry Brook launched a counterattack, smashing 39 off just 12 balls, taking the attack to the Indian bowlers. Jacob Bethell played the anchor's role as England rebuilt. Brook's aggressive knock ended when Axar Patel trapped him after a successful review.
Bethell then joined hands with Tom Banton, who made a fluent 39, to revive England's hopes. The pair kept the required rate within reach with positive strokeplay against India's spinners.
India's middle-over fightback
India regained control in the middle overs as Arshdeep returned to dismiss Banton, while Varun Chakaravarthy removed Will Jacks for 9. However, following Chakaravarthy's over, Bethell slammed Ravi Bishnoi for 29 runs and brought up an excellent fifty to put England back in control.
In the next over, Harshit Rana got the better of Sam Curran, bringing Jofra Archer to the crease. Bethell and Archer then sealed the match with six balls to spare.
India post 190/7 after early fireworks
Earlier, fluent innings from Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and a late flourish from Tilak Varma powered India to 190/7 in their 20 overs. A late surge of 23 runs off the final seven balls lifted India to a competitive total.
After winning the toss and opting to bat, Abhishek Sharma and teenage debutant Vaibhav Sooryavanshi opened the innings. Sooryavanshi, aged 15 years and 99 days, became the youngest player to represent India across formats and the youngest debutant from a Test-playing nation in T20I history. He smashed 14 off 10 balls with two sixes before being stumped off Will Jacks.
Abhishek Sharma then took charge, hammering a brisk 43 to give India a flying start in the powerplay before falling to Sam Curran. Ishan Kishan anchored the innings with a fluent 49, while captain Shreyas Iyer contributed a quickfire 37 off 22 balls, including a six off Liam Dawson, as the pair stitched together a valuable partnership.
England pulled things back in the latter half with regular wickets and tight bowling from Liam Dawson, Will Jacks and Sam Curran, preventing India from fully capitalising on their strong start. Axar Patel was run out in the 19th over after Jos Buttler aimed for the stumps at the striker's end but hit the bowler's end. Tilak Varma then smashed Jofra Archer for 17 runs in the final over before Archer removed Harshit Rana on the last ball.
