WATCH: 21-year-old RCB batter's maiden ODI century on challenging surface during ENG vs SA 3rd ODI

A big inning during the hour of need. Young England batter Jacob Bethell scored a quick-paced century against South Africa when the England (ENG vs SA 3rd ODI) cricket team was fighting to save their prestige in Southampton. In 76 balls, the 21-year-old batter completed his hundred with style. He smashed a boundary to complete his maiden ODI century. 

During the second ball of the 40th over of the first innings during England vs. South Africa (ENG vs. SA), the 3rd of the 3-match ODI series, he found the boundary rope against Nandre Burger. The South African went for a yorker but missed by an inch, around off. By then, the young batter had positioned himself well enough to swing his arms freely. Bethell leans and creams it through covers for a boundary to touch the 100-run mark. The century came after a half-century he scored during the second match of the series.

Bethell is establishing himself at the number 4 position in the ODI format steadily. He went back to the pavilion after scoring 110 against 82 deliveries with 13 boundaries and 3 over boundaries. Experienced spinner Keshav Maharaj helped South Africa to remove the in-form English batter from the crease. Jacob went down the pitch again and went big.

Maharaj read this move early and had a quicker and wider delivery to avoid the bleed—an easy stumping for Ryan Rickelton. Before the drinks break, Bethell and Joe Root stitched a hundred-run partnership, which helped England to go beyond the 300-run mark. 

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His stint with RCB 

Bethell emerged as one of the most promising batters in world cricket. He was with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) during their historic campaign in IPL 2025. Though, the southpaw contributed in only two matches for them.

 In a couple of IPL 2025 games, the middle-order batter scored a total of 67 runs, including a 55-run knock. Bethell can be a huge prospect for the England cricket team and Royal Challengers Bengaluru as well in the future.