Buttler’s 83 drives England to 7-wicket win over West Indies

Late West Indies rally falls short as England’s top order, led by Buttler, cements 2-0 series lead

BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS:

England captain Jos Buttler scored a brilliant 83 off 45 balls, guiding his team to a seven-wicket win in the second Twenty20 international against the West Indies in Barbados on Sunday, giving England a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

Following a comfortable victory in the first T20 at the Kensington Oval, England faced a more challenging total as the West Indies lower order rallied, adding 32 runs in the final two overs to set a target of 158.

After opener Phil Salt, who had scored an unbeaten century the day before, was dismissed on the first ball, Buttler took charge. In only his second match back from a long injury break, he hit six sixes, helping England gain firm control of the series.

Liam Livingstone sealed the win with a six, allowing England to aim for their first white-ball series win in the Caribbean since 2019, with two matches remaining in Saint Lucia.

Reflecting on his performance, Buttler said, “It’s great to spend time in the middle. I felt a bit rusty initially but settled in and really enjoyed being back.”

Known for his flexibility, Buttler added that he adapted his batting approach to the game’s demands. Winning the toss, Buttler chose to bowl first, with fast bowler Jofra Archer quickly taking early wickets, leaving the West Indies struggling at 35-3 within four overs.

West Indies captain Rovman Powell scored a valuable 43 to stabilise his team, but he was bowled by Dan Mousley, who celebrated his first T20I wicket. Lower-order contributions, particularly Romario Shepherd’s swift 22 off 12 balls, added some pressure on England in their chase.

However, Buttler’s steady partnership of 128 runs with opener Will Jacks (who scored 38) brought England within reach of victory. After both were dismissed in the same over, Livingstone’s unbeaten 23 secured the win with five overs to spare.

Powell noted the need for top-order batters to play deeper into the innings, saying, “We’ve done it in the past but struggled in this series. The next three matches are a chance for improvement.”