2nd T20: Jacob Bethell’s heroics guide England past India, take 1-0 series lead

Manchester [UK], July 4 (ANI): A majestic half-century from Jacob Bethell helped England edge past India by 4 wickets in the second T20I on Saturday in Manchester.
Bethell played a commanding innings of 76 off 46 balls laced with 5 fours and sixes each, leading the hosts to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match T20 series after the first match was washed out due to rain.
England's chase of 191 got off to a shaky start as India's ace seamer Arshdeep Singh ripped through the top order before Harry Brook and Tom Banton launched a counterattack.
Arshdeep struck with the very first ball of the innings, removing Phil Salt for a duck, and followed it up by dismissing Jos Buttler, also for a duck, leaving England reeling at 1/2.
Brook responded with a blistering 39 off just 12 balls, taking the attack to the Indian bowlers, while Jacob Bethell played the anchor's role as England rebuilt.
Brook's aggressive knock ended when Axar Patel trapped him after a successful review, bringing an end to a rapid partnership.
Bethell then joined hands with Tom Banton, who made a fluent 39, to revive England's hopes with a brisk stand. The pair kept the required rate within reach with positive strokeplay against India's spinners.
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 get the game under control for the hosts.
In the following over, Harshit Rana got the better of Sam Curran, bringing Jofra Archer to the crease. In the next over, Bethell and Archer sealed the match for England with 6 balls to spare.
Earlier in the match, fluent innings from Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and a late flourish from Tilak Varma powered India to 190/7 in their 20 overs against England in the second T20I in Manchester on Saturday.
A late surge of 23 runs off the final seven balls lifted India to a competitive total, giving them a fighting finish after a mid-innings slowdown.
After winning the toss and opting to bat, Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi opened the innings. India produced an aggressive batting display against disciplined English bowling.
Teenage debutant Sooryavanshi made an entertaining start to his international career, smashing 14 off 10 balls with two sixes before being stumped off Will Jacks.
Sooryavanshi became the youngest player to represent India across formats, as well as the youngest debutant from a Test-playing nation in T20I history.
Sooryavanshi, who has been included in India's playing 11 for the ongoing second T20I against England to become India's youngest debutant at 15 years and 99 days.
Opener Abhishek Sharma then took charge, hammering a brisk 43 to give India a flying start in the powerplay before falling to Sam Curran.
After the early breakthroughs, 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 to keep the scoreboard moving.
However, England pulled things back in the latter half of the innings with regular wickets and tight bowling from Liam Dawson, Will Jacks and Sam Curran, preventing India from fully capitalising on their strong start.
Things got worse for India as Axar Patel's innings ended in an unfortunate run out in the 19th over after Jos Butler aimed for the stumps at the striker's end, but it hit the stumps at the bowler's end, and Patel had to go back.
However, Tilak Varma pulled things back in the final over, smashing Jofra Archer for 17 runs before the speedster removed Harshit Rana on the last ball of the innings. (ANI)