BRIDGETOWN: England captain Jos Buttler played a rampaging 83-run knock to power his team to an emphatic seven-wicket victory over the West Indies in the second match of the T20I series at Kensington Oval on Sunday.
Responding to the home side’s total of 158 for eight, Buttler took the match by the scruff of the neck in belting eight fours and six sixes off only 45 balls to turn a potentially challenging target into a romp.
England 161-3 in just 14.4 overs to take a 2-0 lead heading into the final three matches of the series against West Indies.
Coming to the crease off just the second ball of the innings after Phil Salt had fallen on the first ball to spinner Akeal Hosein, Buttler attacked the West Indies bowling attack from the word go.
Notably, West Indies were missing suspended pacer Alzarri Joseph and injured fast-bowling all-rounder Andre Russell.
Jos Buttler appeared in line to smash his second T20I hundred after being badly dropped by Sherfane Rutherford at extra-cover off Romario Shepherd in the 13th over.
However, the England skipper fell next ball as another attempt to heave over the top found his West Indies counterpart, Rovman Powell at long-off.
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Buttler inevitably dominated a second-wicket stand of 129 with Will Jacks, who contributed 38 off 29 balls with five fours and one six.
“It was scratchy for the first couple of balls but when I got going I really enjoyed it. It was great to be back out there,” said Buttler on receiving the “Player of the Match” award
Jacks was the first of two wickets for Shepherd, taken at the second attempt at long-off by Matthew Forde, who had earlier played his part together with the rest of the West Indies lower-order to give the innings useful late impetus after they were put into bat on a surface freshened by steady rain throughout the early morning.
Powell topscored with 43 off 41 balls (two fours, two sixes) but his demise in the 16th over left the innings in trouble at 102 for six. Shepherd’s 22 off 12 balls breathed some late life into the home side’s effort with the support of the tail.
Liam Livingstone was the best of the bowlers with two for 16 and was there at the end to seal victory with an unbeaten 23 off 11 balls.
However, nothing could take the shine off Buttler’s assault which leaves England well-poised to avenge a 2-1 loss to the West Indies in the preceding ODI series.
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