S Poddar
Jos Buttler, the England captain, was simply at fire as he plundered 83 off just 45 deliveries, England romped to a comfortable victory in the second T20I against the West Indies by seven wickets.
Barbados hosted a match that was easily one-sided: England chased down West Indies’ 158-8 with 31 balls to spare. Buttler’s innings, containing eight fours and six sixes, dominated the proceedings. A fruitful partnership with an opener Will Jacks, who contributed his 38 at a frantic pace, put England on the ascendency.
The West Indies, with Rovman Powell’s splendid 43-run innings, were indeed struggling for a competitive score after a poor start with many early wickets. It was the lower order, especially Romario Shepherd, Matthew Forde, and debutant Terrance Hinds, who provided a late fire in the tail to elevate the overall score.
However, Buttler’s explosive batting left the West Indies bowlers helpless as England’s run chase was, eventually, unstoppable. His ability to hit a clean and powerful ball, further aided by proper timing, meant he was virtually unplayable for the West Indies bowlers.
Questions have been asked, though, over the decision to push Buttler down the batting order to number three. He responded to this challenge very emphatically in this game, which would suggest this is a masterstroke. By batting lower down the order, Buttler often gets to face tired bowlers and thereby can influence the game quite significantly.
The five-match series is now in the pocket of England, and they are on the verge of finishing it off with a win in the next three matches. That will be played in St Lucia.
Bottom Line:
The difference between two teams for this match was clearly due to the explosive innings of 83 by England captain from just 45 balls.
- West Indies Struggle: The West Indies failed to build up a competitive total with the low order scoring bulk of the runs.
- England’s Dominance: England bats with a lot of depth and also has a significant bowling attack to take on the West Indies.
Quotes: - Jos Buttler: “It’s great to spend time in the middle. I was a bit scratchy at the start, but I managed to get going and really enjoyed it.”
- Rovman Powell: “Unfortunately, we haven’t been on top in all three departments in the first two games. We need to show heart and determination to avoid a 3-0 defeat.”
- Will Jacks: “Jos Buttler makes it look very easy. You just have to stand there and admire it.”
With Buttler in such fine form, England will be confident of winning the series and continuing their dominance in T20 cricket.
