Talented England all-rounder Jacob Bethell, who is representing Melbourne Renegades in the ongoing Big Bash League, smashed his maiden half-century in the tournament against Hobart Hurricanes.
After being asked to bat first, the Renegades slipped to 23-3 inside the powerplay. In a period of consolidation, Bethell then joined hands first with Tim Seifert (24) and then captain Will Sutherland (15) to resurrect the innings. Bethell hit his first BBL half-century, a 50-ball 87, studded with eight fours and four sixes. The Renegades managed 154-7 in 20 overs.
Defending the total, Bethell struck twice with his left-arm orthodox spin, including the vital wicket of Matthew Wade, who perished for 36 off 23 balls. However, Tim David kept his nerve with a 15-ball 24 to take the Hurricanes home with four wickets and two balls remaining.
Jacob Bethell kept the game alive for the Renegades in Hobart.
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 14, 2025
87 off 50 to go along with 12 huge boundaries! 🔥 #BBL14 pic.twitter.com/5IMjdCI8G5
The left-handed Bethell has struck at 168 across seven T20Is, and was acquired by Royals Challengers Bengaluru for INR 2.6 crore at the IPL 2025 mega auction. He is expected to fill a huge role in RCB’s batting order after they let go of the explosive duo of Glenn Maxwell and Will Jacks.
The Renegades are currently teetering at the bottom of the points table, succumbing to their sixth loss in nine matches. Bethell’s form in his maiden BBL stint hasn’t been great either. Before today, he had scored 108 runs at an average of 15.42 and a strike-rate of 102.
Only 21, he had made his white-ball international debut against Australia in September, and hit two unbeaten fifties in the five-match series against the West Indies. A Test debut soon followed in New Zealand, where Bethell impressed after being asked to bat No.3. In Christchurch, he hit a 37-ball half-century, the joint-second fastest fifty on debut in Test history.
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