Jacob Bethell silences critics with record-breaking lightning century in 3rd ODI against SA, tonks historic 82-ball 110 riding on 16 boundaries

The 21-year-old batting sensation Jacob Bethell ran riot with the bat in the third ODI against South Africa at the Rose Bowl cricket stadium in Southampton on September 7, Sunday. This century was special for Bethell as it is his maiden hundred across all three formats of professional cricket: First-Class, List A, and T20.

Jacob Bethell scripts history with maiden ODI ton

Bethell’s century was a display of controlled aggression and intelligent batting, especially amidst all the criticism on his batting. including English cricket pundits.  After openers Ben Duckett and Jamie Smith established a solid 59-run partnership, Bethell came in with the score at 117/2. He then formed a crucial 150-plus run partnership with the experienced Joe Root. While Root focused on rotating the strike, Bethell accelerated the scoring, reaching his hundred in a quick 76 balls. This performance adds to his already impressive ODI career stats; in just 15 matches, Bethell has amassed over 450 runs at an average of more than 42 and a strike rate of nearly 100. This century is his fifth score of 50 or more in ODIs, with two of those coming against South Africa, demonstrating his strong form against a tough opponent.

ALSO READ: 'Whenever you play...': Shivam Dube reveals Gautam Gambhir's clear-cut instructions for India players ahead of Asia Cup

With his outstanding innings, Bethell also stormed into the record books, joining an elite list of England cricketers. At just 21 years and 319 days old, he is now the second-youngest English player to score an ODI century, a feat that places him ahead of Craig Kieswetter and behind only the legendary David Gower.

Bethell's performance also broke another record, as his century is the highest ODI score by an England number four batter against South Africa, surpassing the previous record of 107 set by 2019 World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan. Bethell’s 82-ball 110-run knock also puts him in eighth place on the list of highest individual scores for England against South Africa in ODIs. This list includes several English greats, with Jos Buttler holding the top spot.

Bethell wasn't the only centurion for England as Joe Root also smashed an impressive 100 off 96 to rally his team to a colossal total of 414/5.