England all-rounder Jacob Bethell made a powerful Take a look at debut in opposition to New Zealand, scoring a brisk unbeaten 37-ball 50 within the second innings to information his crew to an eight-wicket win at Christchurch.
The 21-year-old registered the second-highest strike price in a 50-plus rating on Take a look at debut, second solely to New Zealand’s Tim Southee, who had smashed 77 runs off 40 balls in opposition to England again in 2008 at Napier.
Bethell, who scored a 34-ball 10 within the first innings, batted at No. 3 in each innings.
The left-handed batter, who additionally bowls left-arm orthodox spin, was purchased by Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru for Rs. 2.6 crore on the not too long ago held public sale in Saudi Arabia.
RCB, which is but to win a trophy, will hope Bethell can fill within the footwear of all-rounder Glenn Maxwell and Will Jacks, who weren’t retained by the franchise after IPL 2024. He has a blistering strike price of just about 168 in T20Is and might bat within the prime and middle-order. Bethell has additionally been slotted as a finisher in his restricted appearances in ODI cricket.
Bethell made his T20I and ODI debut in September this 12 months through the collection in opposition to Australia. He impressed with two unbeaten half-centuries within the five-match collection in opposition to West Indies final month.
Bethell can also be the youngest England batter to attain a fifty in males’s T20Is, having notched it up at 21 years and 17 days through the second T20I in opposition to West Indies on November 10.