Bethell hit seven sixes and eight fours as England set about going after India\u2019s mammoth 253 for seven.<\/p>\n
It was only when he was run out off the first ball of the final over that India could finally celebrate, and England finished agonisingly short on 246 for seven.<\/p>\n
![\"It](\"https:\/\/ss-i.thgim.com\/public\/incoming\/wbsh1k\/article70710318.ece\/alternates\/FREE_1200\/11908_5_3_2026_22_54_52_2_DSC_3628.JPG\" "\\"It")
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\n EMMANUAL YOGINI\n <\/p>\n
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It was only when he was run out off the first ball of the final over that India could finally celebrate, and England finished agonisingly short on 246 for seven.
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\n EMMANUAL YOGINI\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
That his maiden T20 international century came in the cauldron-like atmosphere provided by 35,000 raucous fans in Mumbai\u2019s Wankhede stadium in a World Cup semifinal made it all the more impressive.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a phenomenal player,\u201d Brook told reporters. \u201cAs we\u2019ve seen tonight in a high-pressure situation against India on their home turf as well, the way that he played that innings there was just phenomenal.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was in his own bubble, and it\u2019s an amazing feeling, you feel like you could hit nearly every ball for six.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 22-year-old Bethell came of age in the Ashes in Australia, scoring his maiden Test century in the Sydney Test.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a ridiculous knock. He should be extremely proud of what he\u2019s done tonight and this whole winter,\u201d said Brook. \u201cHe\u2019s going to have a hell of a career with England, and I\u2019m looking forward to hopefully spending a lot of time with him in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Bethell](\"https:\/\/ss-i.thgim.com\/public\/incoming\/uepv1b\/article70710313.ece\/alternates\/FREE_1200\/11908_5_3_2026_22_54_52_1_DSC_3574.JPG\" "\\"Bethell")
<\/p>\n Bethell hit seven sixes and eight fours as England set about going after India\u2019s mammoth 253 for seven.
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\n EMMANUAL YOGINI\n <\/p>\n
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Bethell hit seven sixes and eight fours as England set about going after India\u2019s mammoth 253 for seven.
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\n EMMANUAL YOGINI\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Brook said he backed head coach Brendon McCullum to carry on in charge of England \u201c125 per cent\u201d.<\/p>\n
McCullum came under fire after England\u2019s Ashes defeat, but has made some amends with a T20 World Cup campaign that came so close to reaching the final.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve said plenty of times he\u2019s the best coach I\u2019ve ever had,\u201d said Brook. \u201cThe way that he speaks to everybody, the way that he has, he\u2019s got an aura in the dressing room, everybody looks up to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe things that he\u2019s done over the four years that he\u2019s took over has changed English cricket for hopefully the best.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brook was taking charge in a global tournament for the first time and said he could not have asked for more from his team as they came so close to upsetting the favourites on their home soil.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we\u2019ve had an amazing campaign, and I said the other day that we\u2019re never out of games, and that\u2019s proven again tonight,\u201d said Brook.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were in the game all the way until the last over. I\u2019m just extremely proud of the boys, and all the boys should be extremely proud of themselves as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Published on Mar 06, 2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n