Jos Buttler’s blistering 83 drove England to an emphatic seven-wicket victory over the West Indies in the second match of their Twenty20 International series.
Jos Buttler’s 83-run knock propelled England to a seven-wicket victory over the West Indies in the second match of their T20I series on Sunday at Kensington Oval in Barbados. Responding to the home team’s score of 158 for eight, the visiting skipper grabbed the match by the scruff of the neck, smashing eight fours and six sixes off only 45 balls to convert a potentially difficult target into a romp. The tourists reached 161 for three in just 14.4 overs, taking a 2-0 advantage into the next three matches of the series in St. Lucia, which begin next Thursday.However, Buttler wasted little time in putting together a West Indies bowling attack that was missing suspended pacer Alzarri Joseph, injured fast-bowling all-rounder Andre Russell, and fielding debutant seamer Terrance Hinds, who came to the crease off just the second ball of the innings after Phil Salt, the century-making match-winner of Saturday’s first match, had fallen first ball to spinner Akeal Hosein.
After being horribly caught by Sherfane Rutherford at extra-cover off Romario Shepherd in the 13th over, the England captain fell the following ball as another attempted heave over the top found his West Indies counterpart, Rovman Powell, at long-off. It appeared like he would be able to claim a second T20I hundred.Will Jacks, who scored 38 off 29 balls with five fours and one six, and Buttler unavoidably dominated a second-wicket partnership of 129.
“After I got going, I really enjoyed it, even if the first few balls were rough. After being named “Man of the Match,” Buttler remarked, “It was great to be back out there.”
Matthew Forde, who had earlier contributed along with the rest of the West Indies lower-order to provide the innings with practical late impetus after they were put in to bat on a surface freshened by constant rain throughout the early morning, took Jacks, the first of Shepherd’s two wickets, at long-off on his second attempt.Powell put the innings in danger at 102 for six after he top-scored with 43 off 41 balls (two fours, two sixes). The home team’s attempt was given some late life by Shepherd’s 22 off 12 balls, which was supported by the tail.
At the end, Liam Livingstone sealed the victory with an undefeated 23 off 11 balls, and he was the top bowler with two for 16.
Buttler’s attack, however, was too strong to be overcome, and the tourists are now ready to exact revenge for a 2-1 defeat to the West Indies in the last ODI series.
