Sooryavanshi becomes India's youngest men's cricketer in England T20
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi debuted at 15 years and 99 days, but Jacob Bethell’s unbeaten 76 carried England to victory in Manchester.
By Lucas Ferreira · Science & Environment Writer
2 min read
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi became India’s youngest men’s international cricketer on Saturday, making his Twenty20 debut against England at Old Trafford at 15 years and 99 days, according to The Associated Press. England still controlled the result, winning the second T20 by four wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
The AP reported that Sooryavanshi moved ahead of Sachin Tendulkar on India’s age record for men’s international players. Opening the batting in place of Sanju Samson, the teenager made 14 from 10 balls, including two sixes, before Will Jacks and Jos Buttler ended his innings with a stumping.
Sooryavanshi’s first over came against Josh Tongue, who was also playing his first T20 international, the AP reported. The left-hander missed his first two deliveries, then got off the mark with an inside edge that ran close to his off stump.
The teenager then faced Jofra Archer, his Rajasthan Royals teammate, and lifted him for six with an improvised shot, according to the AP. He added another six off Tongue, sending the ball over wide long-on, before charging Jacks and losing his balance as Buttler completed the dismissal.
India’s innings was driven by more than its debutant, the AP reported. Abhishek Sharma made 43, Ishan Kishan scored 49, and Sam Curran took 3-33, including the wickets of Sharma, Kishan and Shivam Dube.
England needed 191 to win, according to the AP, but its chase started poorly when Arshdeep Singh removed Phil Salt and Jos Buttler for ducks in the first over. Harry Brook changed the tone with 39 from 15 balls, hitting four fours and three sixes.
Jacob Bethell then became the central figure in the chase, the AP reported. Coming in with England 51-3, the 22-year-old made 76 not out from 46 balls, with five fours and five sixes, and stayed to the finish alongside Archer.
The match swung hard in England’s direction in the 17th over, according to the AP. Ravi Bishnoi bowled two back-foot no-balls that created free hits, and Bethell hit both for six as the over cost India 29 runs.
England had required 49 from the final 24 balls before that over, the AP reported. Bethell’s acceleration left the hosts in command, and they completed the chase with one over remaining.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.