Jacob Bethell brilliance outshines India’s 15-year-old superstar

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Bethell made 76 from 46 balls as England chased down 190 with an over to spare - Dave Thompson/AP

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made history as India’s youngest ever international cricketer but was outshone by Jacob Bethell, a comparable veteran aged 22 who carried England to a welcome victory.

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When the most powerful man in world cricket flies in especially to watch a player on debut then you know there is a special importance to it. Jay Shah, the chairman of the International Cricket Council who never knowingly lets a photo opportunity go begging, was front and centre on the balcony of the Old Trafford pavilion when Sooryavanshi became the second-youngest international cricketer of all time at 15 years and 99 days.

Sooryavanshi had been left out of the first three games of India’s tour – two in Ireland and the rained off T20 in Durham on Wednesday. It leant a symbolism to picking him at Old Trafford: it was here that Sachin Tendulkar scored his first Test century, aged 17 in 1990. Sooryavanshi is the most heralded kid since Tendulkar with viewing figures at the IPL rocketing when he walks out to bat. No wonder Shah jumped on a plane.

But England have their own young star in the making in Bethell whose cool head rescued the chase from two for one with both openers out for ducks to a four-wicket win with an over to spare. This entertaining T20 international on a good pitch in Manchester was won by an efficient England side who were well led by Harry Brook, fielded well and were polished with bat and ball. 

Bethell scored hundreds in the World Cup semi final in Mumbai and the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney but those games were lost. This 76 off 46 balls was a genuine match-winning performance. 

“There is nothing sweeter as a batter than walking off with a win, not out, shaking the boys’ hands,” he said. “It was very pleasing. A game that ebbed and flowed, they started well, we pulled it back.”

Bethell struck five fours and five sixes, targeting the shorter boundary as England chased down 191 after restricting India’s formidable batting line up through some canny bowling from Sam Curran, who did his hopes of replacing Stokes in the Test side no harm at all with a spell of three for 32, his best T20 figures in England. Suddenly bowling 78mph with skill to a keeper standing up is back in vogue. 

The win was badly needed by an England management team battered by the New Zealand defeat and Stokes fallout. Twenty20 is probably England’s strongest format at the moment, and this series may have arrived at just the right time.

It gives Brook an opportunity to build a rapport with Brendon McCullum and it was the captain’s 39 off 15 balls, which included three consecutive sixes, that steadied them after the wobble when they lost Phil Salt and Jos Buttler in the first over.

Buttler’s England’s struggles continued when he middled a flick off his legs straight into the hands of midwicket for his sixth single figure score in seven international innings and across the two white ball formats has now gone 21 times without making a fifty. 

Brook’s cameo was desperately needed as England stared at another defeat. He simply repeated his innings from the third New Zealand Test but this time in the right surroundings. His positivity allowed Bethell to bat in his slipstream.

Bethell came in at two for one and saw England home, accelerating from a steady start to ease the pressure. He was 42 from 36 balls but smashed hapless leg spinner Ravi Bishnoi for 26 - hitting two no-ball free hits for six in a 17th over that cost 29 and tipped the match England’s way. Bishnoi, with his wide angled run up was called for three back foot no balls and was belted at 15 an over.

England needed 49 at the start of that Bishnoi over and after Bethell’s charge, could afford to lose another wicket without it making much difference.

Sooryavanshi is so young that safeguarding rules require him to change in a different dressing room to the rest and he has to be accompanied on tour by his parents. He is a boy in a grown ups’ world until he has a bat in hand.

He is super cool at the crease and did not exhibit, externally at least, any hint of nerves. He has a gift for six-hitting, coiling up and unwinding some booming pulls from a low base. He is powerfully built for his age and when the puppy fat is trained out of him and as he grows he will be an even more imposing presence at the crease.  

He slotted his fourth ball in international cricket for six over fine leg off Jofra Archer and two balls later hit Josh Tongue over midwicket, several rows back into the stand, statement hits off England’s two quickest bowlers. 

At the moment he does not have to worry about nibble outside off stump, the rhythms of Test cricket and bowlers peppering him with bouncers. That can wait for another day when he has matured. But in T20 he is a machine and you sensed even the England supporters were a little disappointed when he was out stumped to Will Jacks, Brook turning to his spinner in the fifth over of the powerplay and it proving to be a wise choice.

It was a decent bowling effort by England to restrict India to below 200 after they travelled at ten an over for the first 13 overs. England only conceded 61 from the last seven, and could afford to give Adil Rashid only two overs, a decision based on a strong crosswind and short boundary to one side.

06:13pm

Tale of the match

Where was the game won and lost? Bethell’s undefeated 76, from just 46 balls, was a gem: his evisceration of Ravi Bishnoi in the 17th over, which conceded 29 runs, tilted the match decisively England’s way. Harry Brook’s audacious 39 from 15 balls after walking out at 0-1 after one ball was an innings of an ilk that very few men can play. With the ball, Sam Curran’s 3-33, varying his pace and length shrewdly, was crucial. Brook also captained well: Will Jacks, deployed against left-handers, took 1-22 from his three overs. Stick around for Nick Hoult’s report.

06:09pm

England win by 4 wickets!

Arshdeep, who has taken three wickets, is back to try and turn the match around. But Archer pulls his second delivery through midwicket for four, then flicks a two through square leg. After a couple of singles, Archer then tucks the winning two runs away through fine leg. England win by four wickets: what a run chase after losing both openers for ducks in the opening over.

06:03pm

Over 18: England 181-6 (Bethell 75, Archer 1)

Jofra Archer is promoted ahead of Liam Dawson for his big hitting: a surprise given the required rate just requires the lower order batsman to give Bethell the strike. Rana closes out the over with just two runs - one a wide - from his last three deliveries to go with the wicket. Archer is on strike; England need just ten from two overs.

06:00pm

Wicket! Curran c Sooryavanshi b Rana 7

What an exhibition this is from Jacob Bethell. He was relatively sedate for most of his innings but has now accelerated devastatingly. A reverse scoop from Rana is another illustration of Bethell’s gifts. Curran becomes a pub quiz question by becoming Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s first catch in international cricket, but England are now just 12 away.

05:57pm

Over 17: England 171-5 (Bethell 68, Curran 7)

That’s a shocker from Bishnoi, beginning the 17th over with a front-foot no ball - something no spinner should bowl, let alone at such a critical juncture. Bethell duly bludgeons the free hit over long on for six. Bishnoi then delivers yet another no ball, his third of the innings; once again, Bethell marmalises the ensuing free hit over the on side for another six to reach his half-century. But Bethell doesn’t confine his boundary-hitting to free hits. Going back and to the on side to generate room, in his trademark style, he carves a four though the off side, then pummels another six over long on. With two from the final ball - though it was almost a four after some jittery fielding on the square leg boundary - the tally for the over extends to 29. That will surely be decisive in the match: England now need just 20 from three overs.

05:49pm

Over 16: England 142-5 (Bethell 42, Curran 5)

Curran gets a very fortuitous four from his first delivery, edging past the keeper. Bethell then follows up with a rather more deserving boundary, lashed through long on. Still, only ten off the over. England need 49 runs in 24 balls; we could be in for a classic finish.

05:45pm

Wicket! Jacks lbw b Chakravarthy 9

Jacks attempts a reverse sweep, misses completely and gets in a real tangle, and is lbw for 9. England need 58 runs in 28 balls.

05:43pm

Over 15: England 132-4 (Bethell 37, Jacks 9)

Jacks carves Axar’s first ball through deep extra cover for four: the first boundary that the left-armer has conceded today. But he recovers well, conceding just four from the rest of the over to finish with exemplary figures of 1-20 from four overs. An outstanding display of left-arm finger spin.

05:39pm

Over 14: England 124-4 (Bethell 35, Jacks 3)

Jacks is the new batsman at six: a promotion of one spot from the T20 World Cup, when he made four player of the match displays for his combination of usefulk runs at seven and off spin. A tidy over from Chakravarthy, just six off it.

05:34pm

Wicket! Banton c Varma b Singh 39 Over 13: England 118-4 (Bethell 32)

Arshdeep attempts to cramp up the batsmen on his return, denying the pair room to swing their arms. His tactics work excellently: the pressure builds, culminating in Banton picking out deep extra cover. Another huge moment in this pulsating game.

05:29pm

Over 12: England 115-3 (Bethell 32, Banton 38)

Banton lays into Bishnoi. After the leg spinner begins with a wide, Banton hits his next two balls through deep midwicket and then deep extra cover. Twelve off the over as Arshdeep Singh returns.

05:24pm

Over 11: England 103-3 (Bethell 31, Banton 28)

A couple of boundaries off the over, which ends with a Bethell pull for four from Rana. England need 88 runs in 54 balls with seven wickets in hand. Are they very slight favourites?

05:17pm

Over 10: England 91-3 (Bethell 26, Banton 23)

England needed that. A slog sweep from Banton off Chakravarthy for six begins the over; an edge past third man brings Banton another boundary. Finger spin is proving much more effective than wrist spin on this Old Trafford pitch, with bowlers getting more assistance off the surface than in the air. England need exactly 100 from the last ten overs.

05:13pm

Over 9: England 78-3 (Bethell 18, Banton 18)

England just can’t get anything behind Patel, who cramps up the batsmen with his pace, accuracy abd back-of-a-length style. Just three off the over, and the required run rate has now gone above ten. Patel has 1-12 from his three overs, and England are stalling.

05:09pm

Over 8: England 76-3 (Bethell 17, Banton 17)

Varun Chakravarthy, a leg spinner with a beguiling array of variations, comes on to bowl. Banton unfurls a reverse sweep for four to his second ball. Nine off the over, which is now just below the required rate. 

05:05pm

Over 7: England 67-3 (Bethell 17, Banton 9)

Axar, the deluxe Liam Dawson, fires the ball in and concedes just six from the over. He looks very hard to attack on this surface.

05:02pm

Over 6: England 61-3 (Bethell 13, Banton 7)

A much better over from Bishnoi, although Banton thrashed a four through point. The Powerplay is done now, which is good news for India’s spinners, who will expect to close out the game.

04:58pm

Over 5: England 53-3 (Bethell 12, Banton 1)

Banton gets off the mark immediately, but that’s a terrific over from Axar Patel, yielding only four runs. 

04:57pm

Wicket! Brook c Kishan b Patel 39

Huge moment in the run chase. Harry Brook gloves his sweep off Axar Patel; India’s review shows a spike. Brook played imperiously for 39 from 15 balls, but India now feel well on top again. 

04:52pm

Over 4: England 49-2 (Brook 38, Bethell 10)

Ravi Bishnoi begins with a no-ball; Jacob Bethell swats the free hit away through square leg for four, then misses an attempted reverse sweep and is struck on the pads. Another boundary, slog-swept through midwicket, gives England 11 off the over. They’re well above the required rate so far.

04:47pm

Over 3: England 38-2 (Brook 37, Bethell 1)

A flurry that encapsulates why Brook is such an extraordinary talent, even if he can be infuriating. He thrashes 26 off the last five balls of the over, culminating consecutive sixes over midwicket, straight and square leg - where the fielder’s flick as he hurtled over the rope landed on the boundary. One over has recalibrated the feel of England’s chase. 

04:40pm

Over 2: England 11-2 (Brook 11, Bethell 0)

Brook reacts to those two wickets in characteristic fashion: he flicks Harshit Rana’s second ball through midwicket for four, then uses his feet to carve Rana’s next delivery through the off side. Ten off the over.

04:36pm

Over 1: England 1-2 (Brook 1, Bethell 0)

Brook and Bethell, who will be such a pivotal core of the batting line-up in all formats for years to come, have a serious rebuilding job to do now. There was real swing for Singh in that over.

04:34pm

Wicket! Buttler c Chakravarthy b Singh 0

Brook is into his work immediately, pushing his first ball for one. But that’s more than Buttler can muster, flicking Singh to Varun Chakravarthy at midwicket. Both England openers fall for a duck; Brendon McCullum can be seen without a smile on his face, a familiar sight this summer.

04:29pm

Wicket! Salt c Kishan b Singh 0

Salt’s gone first ball of the innings. A half-hearted push against left-armer Arshdeep Singh is nicked behind; he looks to the heavens in despair. 

04:18pm

England need 191 to win

That’s an excellent result for England, restricting India to 61 from the last seven overs. From 130-2, England fought back admirably; Curran used his variations adroitly, and Jacks fulfilled his role bowling to two left-handers excellently. It’s still a steep target, but England might be narrow favourites.

04:16pm

Wicket! Harshit Rana c †Buttler b Archer 6 Over 20: India 190-7 (Varma 24)

Tilak tucks into Archer’s last over, clearing long on and midwicket from the first two deliveries, then squeezing a four though deep third man. Seventeen off the over, which ends with Rana edging Archer behind. 

04:11pm

Over 19: India 173-6 (Varma 7, Rana 6)

A really good over from Tongue is ruined by the last delivery, which sat up and was pummelled over long on by Harshit Rana. Still, 11 runs is a good result from the 19th over.

04:09pm

Wicket! Axar Patel run out (†Buttler) 3

Buttler misses the stumps at his end, then hits them at the non-striker’s end. 

04:05pm

Over 18: India 162-5 (Varma 2, Axar 2)

After all the drama, still a good over for England. Only nine runs to go with the wicket. Curran finishes with 3-32, his best T20I figures. 

04:03pm

Wicket? No

Two in the over for Curran! So it seems but Archer’s catch is being reviewed. Was the ball grounded? The umpire think it was, so Tilak Varma remains at the crease. Curran and England are furious: one of those decisions that could have gone either way from the TV umpire.

03:56pm

Wicket! Kishan c Dawson b Curran 49

After a boundary first ball, Kishan skews Curran’s second delivery to mid off.

03:54pm

Over 17: India 153-4 (Kishan 45, Varma 1)

A reverse sweep from Kishan off Jacks, who is still bowling, breaks the shackles. But only up to a point: just seven from the over, continuing England’s excellent spell. India have mustered just 14 runs, and lost one wicket, from the past three overs. 

03:50pm

Wicket! Dube c Banton b Curran 5 Over 16: India 146-4 (Kishan 38)

Outstanding from Curran, varying his pace - as high as 80mph and as low as 69mph - and length. Four consecutive dot balls to Kishan are the result, interspersed by a wide. Just two runbs off the over, which ends with Dube caught at long off. 

03:43pm

Over 15: India 144-3 (Kishan 38, Dube 5)

Jacks back into the attack against the two left-handers. The plan works. Just six runs from the over, a brilliant result for England. 

03:40pm

Over 14: India 138-3 (Kishan 35, Dube 2)

Archer is back into the attack, and peppers Dube with a short ball which the batsman is lucky lobs harmlessly to safety. An edge through short third man from the final ball ruins a terrific over.

03:35pm

Wicket! Iyer c Banton b Dawson 37 Over 13: India 130-3 (Kishan 29)

Dawson despairs after dropping too short and being launched over midwicket by Iyer. He has his revenge from the last ball of the over, caught at deep extra cover by Banton. But India have a brilliant platform at Old Trafford.

03:30pm

Over 12: India 118-2 (Iyer 26, Kishan 28)

Superb from Iyer, using the depth of the crease to rock back and squirt Tongue for four. Ten off the over without any risk: a microcosm of modern T20 batting. 

03:22pm

Over 11: India 108-2 (Iyer 20, Kishan 23)

Rashid is back into the attack after drinks. Kishan slams his fourth ball to midwicket, where Salt - in ten yards off the ropes, rather than on the boundary edge - spills the ball with his left hand. Rashid’s next ball is thrashed through wide long off for another boundary. With eight wickets in hand, India will have designs of 230. 

03:16pm

Over 10: India 96-2 (Iyer 18, Kishan 14)

Curran try to go into the pitch to regain control, though Kishan’s cut still goes for four. Kishan can’t lay a bat on an excellent slower ball, from the fifth delivery. Only seven off the over

03:11pm

Over 9: India 89-2 (Iyer 16, Kishan 9)

Dawson rushes through the ninth over, darting the ball in and conceding just six singles. Exactly the role he is picked for.

03:10pm

Not a moment to remember

Abhishek bunts a full toss from Sam Curran to deep midwicket - cricket not the winner there. Very average. Not quite ball of the century.

03:08pm

Over 8: India 83-2 (Iyer 13, Kishan 6)

Adil Rashid is into his work now. Iyer slams the second ball through midwicket for four; every other delivery yields a single.

03:05pm

Over 7: India 74-2 (Iyer 7, Kishan 3)

Dawson on to bowl the first over after the Powerplay, using his typical pace into the wicket. Nine off the over, including a deluxe late cut by Shreyas Iyer to get off the mark.

03:01pm

History

Mike Atherton - not a man for hyperbole - just mentioned Sooryavanshi’s first six in the same breath as Warne’s ball of the century as Old Trafford moments. A real I was there moment for the supporters at OT.

03:00pm

Wicket! Over 6: India 65-2 (Sharma 43, Kishan 1)

Curran’s entry into the attack is the cue for Sharma to clear mid off. The sixth over is often the most expensive in a T20; this one goes for 15 but ends in the wicket of Sharma, flicking to midwicket. 

02:56pm

Over 5: India 50-1 (Sharma 30, Kishan 0)

Nine off the over and a wicket: an excellent comeback after the first two deliveries went for four.

02:54pm

Wicket! Sooryavanshi b Jacks 14

Jacks comes on, and his first delivery is thrashed through extra cover by Sharma. Then, his next delivery is launched over extra cover. But Sooryavanshi is stumped giving Jacks the charge, falling for 14 off nine balls: his first international innings. 

02:50pm

Over 4: India 41-0 (Sooryavanshi 14, Sharma 21)

An awesome six from Sooryavanshi, thrashing Tongue’s first ball over long on for six, hitting to the short side of the ground and with the wind. Sharma then joins the fun, clearing long off against another overpitched delivery. Tongue struggling on his T20I debut. 

02:45pm

Over 3: India 21-0 (Sooryavanshi 8, Sharma 8)

A top-edged swing sweep from Sooryavanshi, down on one knee off Archer begins the over: his first six in international cricket. How many more will there be to come? But Archer comes back well; this has been a good start for England, despite Sharma jamming a four through fine leg from the final delivery.

02:40pm

Over 2: India 10-0 (Sooryavanshi 1, Sharma 4)

The most anticipated first ball by an international batsman since - Sachin Tendulkar? - is a Sooryavanshi upper cut from Tongue, which meets only air. Tongue’s third ball is sprayed down the on side for five wides. Then Sooryavanshi’s first international run comes in the most inelegant way imaginable: an inside edge past his pads for one. How many thousands more runs will there be to come?

02:35pm

Over 1: India 4-0 (Sooryavanshi 0, Sharma 4)

Sharma slashes the third ball of the innings, from Archer, for four. But Archer’s length from the Statham End is effective; an excellent first over. Now it’s Sooryavanshi time. 

02:25pm

The teams

England: 1 Phil Salt, 2 Jos Buttler (wk), 3 Harry Brook (c), 4 Jacob Bethell, 5 Tom Banton, 6 Sam Curran, 7 Will Jacks, 8 Liam Dawson, 9 Adil Rashid, 10 Jofra Archer, 11 Josh Tongue

India: 1 Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 2 Abhishek Sharma, 3 Ishan Kishan (wk), 4 Shreyas Iyer (c), 5 Tilak Varma, 6 Shivam Dube, 7 Harshit Rana, 8 Axar Patel, 9 Ravi Bishnoi, 10 Arshdeep Singh, 11 Varun Chakaravarthy

India are batting first, which means Sooryavanshi’s first ball in international cricket is imminent. This is the second game of the five-match series; the first was abandoned due to rain in Durham, after India scored 189-7 from their 20 overs. 

02:21pm

Excitement in the stands

 There was a big cheer from the cluster of Indian fans sitting in front of the Hilton Hotel at Old Trafford when they saw head coach Gautam Gambhir walk towards 15 year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi with an India cap. It is the most eagerly awaited debut in T20 history and there will be immense interest in this game now in India - the ECB’s broadcast partners will be very happy. “We have been thinking about tactical decisions,” said Harry Brook at the toss when asked about Sooryavanshi. Let’s see what they have come up with.   

02:06pm

India win the toss

India have won the toss and chosen to bat at Old Trafford. The big team news is 15-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi makes his debut for India. Aged 15 years and 99 days, Sooryavanshi is the youngest ever debutant for India in international cricket. Read all about him here.

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