Jos Buttler serves up fireworks as England see off West Indies in first T20

The Guardian

a day ago

The burden has gone for Jos Buttler. Playing his first Twenty20 international since stepping down from the white-ball captaincy, there was liberation as he struck a 59-ball 96 to set up England's 22-run win over West Indies.
If there was any glumness for the 34-year-old, it was in missing out on what would have been his first T20I century at home. Nonetheless, Buttler top-scored in a total of 188 before Liam Dawson got to work.
The left-arm spinner has been the darling of the county game in recent years but this was his return to the England show after nearly three years away. His story has long been that of the drinks carrier, an unused member of the 2019 World Cup-winning squad, there to use in case of emergency. Here he was part of the main cast and celebrated his best international figures, four wickets for 20 runs, his control crucial. A new life begins for Dawson, too.
The London traffic had disrupted West Indies before the third one-day international at the Oval; this time it was British immigration policy. The recent introduction of a visa requirement for visitors from Trinidad and Tobago led to the absence of Akeal Hosein, the left-arm spinner still waiting to complete the process. Cricket West Indies 'remains optimistic' that the matter will be sorted in 'the coming days', yet this quickfire three-match series concludes on Tuesday.
Hosein, noted for his guile with the new ball, was missed as England unleashed havoc on the opposition quicks at the start of the evening. Ben Duckett perished quickly to Romario Shepherd but Jamie Smith and Buttler were brutal in their 79-run standoff 6.4 overs. The former, taking advantage of Phil Salt's paternity leave, feasted over long-on to compile a 20-ball 38. Butter was a treat when going straight but also showcased the scoop when taking 22 off four Alzarri Joseph deliveries.
With the next major assignment a T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka next year the focus for England remains how they counter spin. Gudakesh Motie's slow stuff inevitably brought quiet, his four overs wicketless but conceding just 21, while Roston Chase snuck one through Harry Brook to end the England captain's knock on six. West Indies' coterie of pace-bowling all-rounders recovered well as England fell to 116 for four and the surviving Buttler slowed down; after reaching 50 off 25 balls, his next 19 deliveries produced 16.
But three figures remained on as he fetched a wide Jason Holder delivery and found the square-leg rope, as he reverse-swatted a fuller Shepherd ball to go to 86. Another along the carpet would have done it but Joseph found the pads.
Dawson was immediately called upon in the West Indies reply, and success came quickly, an economical opening over followed by a wicket when he switched ends, a flighted delivery luring Johnson Charles forward and inviting the stumping from Buttler.
Sign up to The Spin
Subscribe to our cricket newsletter for our writers' thoughts on the biggest stories and a review of the week's action
after newsletter promotion
Matt Potts, making his T20I debut in the same week he lost his Test spot, endured a mixed opening over, dismissing Shai Hope cheaply but taking nine deliveries to complete it, a no-ball – hit for six by Chase – called because of three fielders behind square on the leg side.
A powerplay total of 44 for two gave England advantage though the game threatened to turn as Evin Lewis took a liking to Potts and then Jacob Bethell in his first over. The latter struggled with his line and conceded 24 runs before Lewis got a little too excited with the final ball, finding Brydon Carse's hands by the longer leg-side boundary.
Dawson then capitalised on the required rate, Sherfane Rutherford and Chase offering Duckett simple grabs in the deep. When Rovman Powell collected a couple of boundaries in Dawson's final over, out came the pinpoint dart to rattle the stumps. Adil Rashid's commanding 16th over meant the contest was over before the death.