RCB recruit Jacob Bethell shines with maiden BBL half-century
What's the story
Jacob Bethell, the promising English all-rounder playing for Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League (BBL), has made his mark with his first half-century in the tournament.
Bethell scored an impressive 87 runs off just 50 balls against Hobart Hurricanes.
The standout performance included 8 fours and 4 sixes, helping the Renegades post 154/7 in their allotted 20 overs.
However, the Hurricanes later chased down the total.
Game changer
Bethell boosts Renegades's innings
The Renegades were reeling at 23/3 in the Powerplay when Bethell came to bat.
He stitched a partnership with Tim Seifert (24) and captain Will Sutherland (15), stabilizing the innings.
However, the Hurricanes chased it down with two balls to spare, courtesy Tim David's blistering 24 off just 15 balls.
Bowling prowess
Bethell's bowling skills on display in BBL
Apart from his batting prowess, Bethell also displayed his bowling skills in the match.
He picked up two crucial wickets with his left-arm spin, including that of Matthew Wade who was dismissed for a 23-ball 36.
This performance further highlights Bethell's versatility as an all-rounder and his potential to be a game-changer for any team he represents.
IPL stint
Bethell set to play for RCB
Bethell, who strikes at nearly 140 in T20 cricket, was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for ₹2.6 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction.
He is likely to play a key role in RCB's batting line-up after the exits of Glenn Maxwell and Will Jacks.
Despite his stellar performance in the BBL match, Bethell was run-out on the final over's first ball by Mitch Owen.