England seemingly had it all under control at 219/3 in the second innings with a 36-run lead over the hosts. However, Beau Webster turned the tide as he trapped Harry Brook LBW for 42.
From there, Will Jacks (0), Jamie Smith (26), Ben Stokes (1), and Brydon Carse (16) had short stays at the crease. However, Bethell was unfazed as he continued scoring runs at a decent pace while minimising risks, playing a knock that could be considered a coming-of-age one.
Speaking on his ton, Bethell said, “It was always coming.”
“It’s nice to get over the milestone, and it gave me a lot of confidence to keep doing it.”
His first ton in Test cricket was no easy feat, as he found himself stuck on 99 for eight deliveries before dancing down the track to deposit Beau Webster’s off-spin for a boundary. Bethell admitted he felt a few nerves in those moments.
“It actually felt okay.
“When they brought the spinner on, I was pretty comfortable to take him over the top. But there were a few nerves there.”
With only two wickets remaining, England will be looking for Bethell to maximise his opportunity to give his side a fighting chance on the final day of play.
