In a thrilling T20 World Cup semifinal at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, England fell short against India despite a heroic century from young gun Jacob Bethel. The 22-year-old smashed his maiden T20 ton off just 45 balls, eclipsing Finn Allen’s blistering record and etching his name in cricket history.
Bethel, entering at number four amid a top-order collapse, unleashed a barrage of boundaries. His 105 off 48 balls stands as the highest score in T20 World Cup knockout matches, surpassing Allen’s 100 off 33 against South Africa in this very tournament. This explosive knock is the second-fastest T20 World Cup century ever, only behind Allen’s mark.
England chased a mammoth 253 but crumbled to 246 for seven, with Bethel’s brilliance going unsupported. Had teammates rallied around him, the outcome might have flipped. India’s Sanju Samson earned Player of the Match honors with a match-defining 89.
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 edition). Fans are buzzing about this rising star’s potential to dominate global T20 stages.