Bethell Powers England to Series Lead
The India vs England 2nd T20I at Old Trafford in Manchester delivered a thriller as England won by four wickets with six balls to spare on July 4, 2026. Chasing 191, the hosts got over the line thanks to a brilliant unbeaten knock from Jacob Bethell, handing England a 1-0 lead in the five-match series after the rain-hit opener.
India Post a Fighting 190
Put in to bat, India rode on strong contributions from their top order to reach 190 for 7 in 20 overs. Shreyas Iyer once again looked in fine touch, continuing his excellent form from the series, while Abhishek Sharma gave India another aggressive start at the top. Both batters have been the standout performers for the visitors so far, and their runs looked to have set up a defendable total in Manchester.
Bethell’s Match-Winning Knock
England’s chase was anchored by Jacob Bethell, who produced a mature and destructive innings of 76 not out from just 46 balls. The left-hander controlled the tempo of the run chase superbly, mixing clean hitting with smart running to keep England ahead of the required rate. His composure under pressure earned him a deserved Player of the Match award and confirmed his growing reputation as one of England’s brightest white-ball talents.
Series Standings and Key Performers
With this win, England moved 1-0 up in the series after the first T20I at Chester-le-Street was washed out. In the individual charts, Shreyas Iyer leads the run-scoring with 105 runs at an average of 52.50, closely followed by Abhishek Sharma on 102. Bethell’s 76 has firmly announced his arrival as a matchwinner for the hosts.
What Comes Next
The series now moves to Nottingham for the 3rd T20I on July 7, with India needing to bounce back quickly to avoid falling further behind. With plenty of firepower on both sides, the remaining matches promise more high-scoring entertainment as the two teams battle for the trophy.