Jos Buttler, the captain of England, led his team to a seven-wicket victory over the West Indies in Barbados with an outstanding effort, making 83 runs off just 45 balls. In the five-match series, England now leads 2-0 thanks to this victory.
After winning the first Twenty20 match at Kensington Oval with ease, England faced some opposition in the second game as the lower order of the West Indies came back to score 32 runs in the final two overs. West Indies was able to produce a competitive total of 158 thanks to their late surge.
After Phil Salt, who had scored an undefeated century in the previous game, was removed on the first ball, England’s chase got off to a shaky start. Buttler swiftly seized over, hitting six sixes to steady the innings and put his team in a solid position in his second game back after a lengthy injury hiatus.
The chase was easily finished by England, and Liam Livingstone’s six finally sealed the win. With the next game scheduled for Thursday in Saint Lucia, England is in a strong position to win their first white-ball series in the Caribbean since 2019.
Buttler reflected on his innings and said he was happy with his comeback. He acknowledged that he initially felt “a bit scratchy” but was able to establish his groove. “It is great to spend time in the middle,” he remarked. He added that he was able to rapidly adjust to the situation because of his expertise in batting in a variety of positions.
Buttler’s decision to bowl first and a strong bowling display helped England win. By collecting quick wickets and putting England in control early on, Jofra Archer bounced back from a dismal opening Twenty20 International by reducing the West Indies to 35-3 in the first four overs.
Before being dismissed by Dan Mousley, who took his first T20I wicket, West Indies captain Rovman Powell attempted to lead his team’s innings with a crucial 43. Powell tried, but the West Indies were unable to get any real traction.
A fast 22 off 12 balls from Romario Shepherd helped the home team increase their total in the closing stages, putting some pressure on England as they got ready to chase down the target.
After getting dismissed on the first ball in this match, Salt, who had been England’s hero in the previous game, faltered. Buttler and opener Will Jacks, however, stabilized the batting and put England in a comfortable position with a partnership of 128 runs for the second wicket.
Buttler came soon after Jacks’ eventual departure for 38 in the same over Shepherd bowled, but the damage had already been done and England’s victory was virtually certain.
Livingstone’s undefeated 23 further solidified the innings, guaranteeing that there would be no more losses as England won with five overs remaining, highlighting their supremacy in the series.
Powell remarked that the West Indies needed a batsman who could stay in the top order for the whole of the innings. He acknowledged that West Indies has had difficulty batting the bulk of the overs in the series thus far and stated, “Someone in the top four or five needs to bat the majority of the overs.”
Powell believes that his hitters have a chance to get better and become more reliable with three games remaining as the West Indies try to rally in the final games.
