Jacob Bethell anchored the chase with a composed, unbeaten 76 while Harry Brook delivered a stunning powerplay assault to carry England to 191/6 in 19 overs, beating India by four wickets in the second T20I at Manchester on 4 July. The victory hands England a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

India's Innings: A Fluctuating Build

India posted 190/7 in 20 overs after a stop-start innings. Teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, making history as India's youngest T20I debutant, announced himself with two sixes before being stumped for 14. Abhishek Sharma then blazed 43 off 24 balls to set the tone, while Shreyas Iyer (37) and Ishan Kishan (49) stitched a valuable middle-overs partnership after the powerplay.

England fought back impressively through Sam Curran's variations, the left-armer claiming 3/32. But Tilak Varma's unbeaten 24 off 11 balls — including three sixes in the closing overs — lifted India to what initially looked a formidable total.

Brook's Powerplay Blitz Flips the Chase

India's bowlers could scarcely have asked for a better start. Arshdeep Singh struck with the very first delivery, inducing an outside edge from Phil Salt, before removing Jos Buttler for a duck in the same over as Varun Chakaravarthy held a sharp catch at midwicket. England were reeling at 1/2.

Brook's response was extraordinary. The England skipper hammered 27 runs off the third over alone — three sixes and three fours off Arshdeep — and raced to 39 off just 15 deliveries. From 1/2, England rocketed to 38/2 within three overs, swinging momentum decisively. Axar Patel, who also reached 100 T20I wickets during the innings, eventually ended Brook's assault via a successful review.

Bethell and Banton Steady the Ship

Bethell never allowed the required rate to spiral. Calm against both pace and spin, the left-hander accumulated smartly while Tom Banton settled in after the early collapse. Banton repeatedly deployed the reverse sweep and conventional strokeplay to keep the scoreboard moving before Arshdeep had him caught in the deep for 39. Varun Chakaravarthy then trapped Will Jacks lbw, leaving England needing 49 from the final five overs with five wickets in hand.

Bishnoi's No-Ball Nightmare Decides the Match

India sensed an opening — then lost it in a single disastrous over. Ravi Bishnoi, who had already overstepped once, bowled two no-balls in the 17th over, both producing free-hits. Bethell punished every mistake mercilessly, smashing three towering sixes and a boundary in an over that leaked 29 runs. That over effectively ended the contest.

Bethell brought up a superb half-century during the assault. Although Harshit Rana removed Sam Curran and Sooryavanshi celebrated his maiden international catch on the boundary, the target was now well within reach. Arshdeep, finishing with excellent figures of 3/40, briefly delayed the inevitable, but Bethell guided England home before Jofra Archer sealed victory with two runs off the final ball of the 19th over.

Brief Scores

India: 190/7 in 20 overs (Ishan Kishan 49, Abhishek Sharma 43; Sam Curran 3/33, Will Jacks 1/22). England: 191/6 in 19 overs (Jacob Bethell 76*, Harry Brook 39, Tom Banton 39; Arshdeep Singh 3/40). England won by four wickets.

The series now moves to the third T20I, with England holding the early advantage and India's death-bowling discipline — particularly Bishnoi's no-ball problem — a clear area for concern.