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

Jacob Bethell's exceptional performance guided England to a four-wicket win against India in the second T20 International on Saturday, securing a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. The first match was washed out by rain, making this victory crucial for the hosts.

Bethell was the star of the chase, smashing a commanding 76 runs from 46 deliveries, including five fours and sixes each. His innings anchored England's pursuit of 191 after a disastrous start. India's Arshdeep Singh initially rattled England's top order, taking wickets with the first two balls of the innings and leaving the hosts at 1/2.

However, England's chase found stability through a counterattack. Harry Brook contributed a rapid 39 off 12 balls, and later, Bethell partnered with Tom Banton, who also scored 39, to revive England's hopes. Bethell's aggressive hitting, including a 29-run over against Ravi Bishnoi, brought the game under control before he and Jofra Archer sealed the victory with six balls to spare.

Earlier, India had set a competitive total of 190/7 in their 20 overs. Abhishek Sharma scored 43, Ishan Kishan anchored with 49, and captain Shreyas Iyer added a quickfire 37. A late surge in the final overs boosted India's score, but it ultimately proved insufficient against Bethell's heroics.