England beat India by four wickets in the second T20I at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester on Saturday, reaching 191/6 in 19 overs to go 1-0 up in the five-match series. Chasing 191, Jacob Bethell anchored the pursuit with an unbeaten 76 off 46 balls as England got home with an over to spare after India had posted 190/7.
India’s total was built around contributions from Abhishek Sharma (43 off 24), Ishan Kishan (49 off 40) and captain Shreyas Iyer (37 off 22). The match also featured the international debut of 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who made 14 off 10 balls. For England, left-arm pacer Sam Curran was the most successful bowler with 3/33.
India set 190/7 after opting to bat
India chose to bat first and finished on 190/7 in their 20 overs, a total described in the match updates as “a fighting total.” The innings was led by a brisk start from Abhishek Sharma, who struck 43 from 24 deliveries, while Ishan Kishan held the middle with 49 off 40 balls. Shreyas Iyer added 37 off 22 to keep the scoring rate moving.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s debut was a major talking point, with the 15-year-old making 14 off 10 balls before being dismissed. England’s Sam Curran led the bowling effort, returning figures of 3/33 to check India’s momentum.
The closing overs featured key moments that shaped India’s final push. A run-out at 18.3 overs saw Axar Patel dismissed for 2 off 3 balls, with Jos Buttler’s throw playing a decisive role in the wicket. In the 17th over phase, a catch involving Tilak Varma and Jofra Archer went upstairs and was ruled grounded, allowing India to continue building. India’s late acceleration included a six from Harshit Rana that pushed the total past 170, and the final over of Jofra Archer yielded 17 runs while also bringing the wicket of Harshit Rana, taking India to 190/7.
England’s chase began dramatically as India struck twice inside the first over. Arshdeep Singh removed Phil Salt for 0 off 1 ball on the very first delivery, caught by Ishan Kishan, and then dismissed Jos Buttler for 0 off 3 balls at 0.5 overs, caught by Varun Chakaravarthy. England were 1/2 early, but the chase quickly regained momentum.
The counterpunch came through Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell. A pivotal third over from Arshdeep Singh went for 27 runs, with Brook going on the attack after Bethell took a single off the first ball. The over sequence in the updates read: 1, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, swinging the chase sharply back in England’s favour.
Brook’s innings was ended by a review-assisted breakthrough. At 4.4 overs, Brook fell for 39 off 15 balls (4 fours, 3 sixes) when Axar Patel bowled down the leg side and the on-field call was wide, but India reviewed and the decision was overturned for a catch behind, with Ishan Kishan completing the dismissal. England were 51/3 at that stage.
From there, the chase progressed with steady scoring and key partnerships. England were 67/3 after seven overs, with Axar Patel delivering a tight over that conceded only six runs and no boundaries, leaving England needing 124 off 78 balls. The updates noted that runs were “coming quite easily” later on, with England reaching 91/3 after 10 overs and crossing 100 at 11 overs.
India did find a significant wicket at 13 overs when Arshdeep Singh removed Tom Banton for 39 off 32 balls (4 fours, 6 sixes), caught by Tilak Varma at deep cover, leaving England 118/4 and needing 73 off 42 balls. Another wicket followed at 15.2 overs as Will Jacks was given lbw to Varun Chakaravarthy for 9 off 8 balls; Jacks reviewed but the decision stood, and England were 133/5.
Bethell finishes it as England close out the chase
With the chase tightening, Bethell’s acceleration proved decisive. At 16.2 overs, he struck Ravi Bishnoi for two sixes to reach his half-century in 39 balls, a passage that included a back-foot no-ball and a free hit. England were 157/5 and needed 34 off 22 balls.
The defining moment came in Bishnoi’s 17th over, described as “an extremely poor over,” in which Bethell hit three sixes and a four as 29 runs were taken. England moved to 171/5 after 17 overs, needing just 20 from 18 balls.
India picked up a late wicket at 17.4 overs when Harshit Rana dismissed Sam Curran for 7 off 5 balls, caught by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi at deep square leg, leaving England 179/6. But the damage had been done. England completed the chase at 191/6 in 19 overs, sealing a four-wicket win with Bethell unbeaten on 76 off 46 balls and taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
