In the second Twenty20 International, England defeated the West Indies by seven wickets at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, thanks to a brilliant effort by Jos Buttler that fueled the team’s pursuit.
Buttler’s 45-ball 83, which included eight fours and six sixes, helped his team sprint to the goal in 14.5 overs after England’s disciplined bowling effort held the West Indies to 158/8.
Phil Salt, the first game’s centurion, was bowled for a duck off the opening ball, giving England an early setback in the chase. However, Will Jacks and Buttler ensured that England had a potent powerplay, with both batsmen hitting a few sixes and several boundaries.
With Jacks hitting a four and Buttler hitting two fours and a six off Romario Shepherd to reach 21 off the over, the sixth over was particularly fruitful for England. To know more cricket updates login to bet pro pakistan.
Even when the fielding limitations were removed, the West Indies could not control the flow of runs. Buttler helped England reach 94/1 at the midway point by hitting sixes and a 32-ball fifty with a maximum off Roston Chase.
By the end of the eighth over, Buttler and Jacks were batting in the 30s, but the England skipper had accelerated into the 80s in the following four overs.Â
Shepherd ended a mammoth 129-run stand by taking the wickets of Buttler and Jacks (38), providing some much-needed relief for the West Indies.
However, it was short-lived as England crossed the finish line in the fifteenth over thanks to Liam Livingstone’s 23* off 11, which included three fours and a six.
Even if the England bowlers were a little offline, the West Indies were hurt by early wickets after being summoned to bat. Saqib Mahmood bowled eight of the nine wides in the opening two overs.
However, he also got rid of Brandon King, who left for one after misfiring on a loft. Jofra Archer gloved a delivery with an additional bounce to the ‘keeper, and Evin Lewis fell to him.Â
West Indies concluded the powerplay at 44/3 when Roston Chase hit three fours, including two in an over of Mahmood, but was subsequently dismissed by the same bowler.
Nicholas Pooran’s attempt to quicken the pace was thwarted by England’s skilful cutting out of the boundaries from over 7 to 10.Â
However, he was unsuccessful in his attempt to contact Livingstone. England had to use the DRS to get the judgment in their favour after Kieran Powell smashed a massive six off Livingstone, but the bowler took his second wicket by trapping Sherfane Rutherford in front. After that, Powell struck a six and a four off Adil Rashid in an over, but it took the West Indies 15 overs to reach 100.
Powell’s cautious innings (43 off 41) ended when Dan Mousley hit a superb yorker to break the stumps. Shepherd and Gudakesh Motie hit a couple of boundaries, but Rashid caught the former, leaving the West Indies at 126/7 after 18 overs.Â
With Shepherd and Matthew Forde making valuable cameos, Sam Curran gave up 17 runs, and Mousley gave up 15, but the final two overs went well for the West Indies.
Nevertheless, a furious Buttler put England in a solid position to win the series, and the total was insufficient against him.
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West Indies lost against England 161/3 in 14.5 overs (Jos Buttler 83, Will Jacks 38; Romario Shepherd 2-42) by seven wickets after scoring 158/8 in 20 overs (Rovman Powell 43, Romario Shepherd 22; Saqib Mahmood 2-20, Liam Livingstone 2-16).
