Credit: England Cricket/X
On Sunday, September 7, Jacob Bethell, the England all-rounder, hit his maiden international hundred during the third ODI of the three-match series against South Africa at The Rose Bowl in Southampton. The 21-year-old reached the milestone moment in his young career in just 76 balls with 11 fours and three sixes to his name, to put England in a commanding position in the match after his team lost two on the spin earlier in the week.
It was on the second ball of the 40th over of the England innings when Jacob Bethell creamed an attempted yorker from Nandre Burger through the cover region for four runs after converting it into a full toss, to reach the three-figure score. As the ball got to the rope, the youngster had his hands aloft in celebration before taking off his helmet while the thousands in attendance at The Rose Bowl and his teammates in the dressing room cheered for him.
Second later, when Sky Sports commentator Michael Atherton confirmed that it is also Jacob Bethell’s first hundred in professional cricket, the all-rounder went on to hug his senior pro Joe Root at the other end, who was on his way to a 58th international hundred. Six balls later into his innings, Jacob Bethell lost his wicket to Keshav Maharaj, getting stumped by Ryan Rickelton, but not before scoring 110 runs in just 82 balls with 13 fours and three sixes.
Joe Root reaches 19th ODI hundred of his England career
Following the fall of his young batting partner’s wicket at the other end, Joe Root took control of the innings and reached his 19th ODI hundred in 95 balls with just six fours to his name. It is also the 58th international hundred for England’s former Test captain, who is in the form of his life for quite some time in international cricket as well as franchise cricket recently.
On the very next ball of his innings, Joe Root lost his wicket to Corbin Bosch with substitute Kwena Maphaka taking the catch, but despite that, England found themselves 372/4 in 47 overs in the third and final ODI of the series.
