India’s Manchester defeat points to familiar frailties

The Old Trafford game saw the middle- and lower-order batters fail to build on the good start and put the game beyond the home team

- Sanjjeev K Samyal

Jacob Bethell proved England's batting star in Saturday's second T20I win over India at Old Trafford after scoring an impeccable 76* off 46 balls.

It sealed a four-wicket win against the T20 world champions. While the first T20I was washed out, Bethell played a blinder the last time England played India in a 20I too, although it was in a losing cause.

In the T20 World Cup semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium in March, the left-handed batter smashed a 45-ball 105, but couldn't take his team over the line chasing. Unlike Saturday, in that World Cup semi-final India batted first and their middle and lower order had put the total beyond England’s reach. Big-hitters Shivam Dube (43, 25b), Hardik Pandya (27, 12b) and Tilak Varma (21, 7b) built on opener Sanju Samson’s 89 to finish on 253/7. India batted England out of the game.

This time, Bethell tore into leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi’s 17th over to clinch the chase. India once again batting first and had a chance to put up a total that would have been beyond the home side. After 13 overs, India were 130/3, well set to bat England out of the game. But the charge never came.