In a thrilling semi-final clash at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, England fell short against India despite a sensational century from young gun Jacob Bethel. The 22-year-old batsman stole the spotlight, smashing his maiden T20 hundred off just 45 balls – the second-fastest in T20 World Cup history.
Coming in at number four amid a top-order collapse, Bethel turned the game on its head. His explosive knock of 105 off 48 balls eclipsed Chris Gayle’s previous record and edged out Finn Allen’s blistering 33-ball ton from earlier in the tournament against South Africa. This wasn’t just any century; it became the highest score in T20 World Cup knockout matches, underlining Bethel’s arrival as a global star.
England chased a mammoth 253 but crumbled to 246 for seven, with Bethel standing tall as the lone warrior. Had teammates rallied around him, victory might have been theirs. India’s Sanju Samson, with a match-winning 89, earned Player of the Match honors.
Bethel joins an elite club as England’s fourth T20 World Cup centurion, following Alex Hales (116* vs Sri Lanka, 2014), Jos Buttler (101* vs Sri Lanka, 2021), and Harry Brook (100 vs Pakistan this tournament). Fans are buzzing about this prodigy’s future in white-ball cricket.