Buttler leads England to victory over the Windies in the second T20

Jos Buttler hammered a blistering 83 off 45 balls, guiding England to a seven-wicket victory over the West Indies in the second T20 of their series. Buttler, coming in after Phil Salt was dismissed on the first ball of the chase, launched a stunning assault, hitting eight fours and six sixes to dominate a 129-run partnership with Will Jacks. Despite both falling in the same over from Romario Shepherd, England cruised to victory, surpassing West Indies’ total of 158-8 with 31 balls to spare.

The win puts England 2-0 up in the five-match series, following back-to-back victories in Barbados. The team now heads to St Lucia for the remaining three matches.

Earlier, West Indies’ innings had been shaky, as they slumped to 35-3 in the powerplay. Rovman Powell fought back with a solid 43, but when he was dismissed by Dan Mousley, the hosts were reeling at 102-6. Some late fireworks from Shepherd, Matthew Forde, and debutant Terrance Hinds pushed the total beyond 150, but Buttler’s explosive knock made short work of the chase.

Buttler’s decision to move to number three after years of opening for England raised eyebrows, but his performance proved the right call. After a cautious start, Buttler quickly found his rhythm, smashing a huge six off Shepherd and following up with a flurry of boundaries. He reached a 32-ball fifty and continued his assault, including back-to-back sixes off Roston Chase. However, he fell to a slower ball from Shepherd before reaching a second T20 international century.

Liam Livingstone then wrapped up the win with a quickfire 23 off 11 balls. Despite Buttler relinquishing the wicketkeeping gloves and shifting down the order, his form has been superb, and the early signs suggest the changes have paid off.

Powell stabilizes West Indies’ innings, but lower-order runs are key
After winning the toss and choosing to bowl again, England’s bowlers capitalized on the conditions, with Saqib Mahmood striking early and Jofra Archer adding pressure. Mahmood’s swing unsettled West Indies, dismissing Brandon King and Evin Lewis early, while Archer’s rising delivery accounted for Lewis.

Windies captain Powell held the innings together with Nicholas Pooran, but Pooran fell to Livingstone just as the partnership seemed to be gaining momentum. Powell, who batted with intent, was eventually bowled by Mousley for 43. West Indies’ lower order, helped by Shepherd’s contributions, managed to push the total to 158-8, but it was not enough as England cruised to victory.

Post-match reactions
England captain Jos Buttler reflected on his innings: “It’s great to spend time in the middle. I was a bit scratchy at the start but managed to come through that and really enjoyed it. I’ve played in lots of positions and am just waiting to see what happens, playing what’s in front of me.”

West Indies captain Rovman Powell was disappointed with his team’s performance: “We’ve not been on the mark in all three departments in the first two games. St Lucia presents a new challenge, and we need to show heart and determination to avoid going 3-0 down.”

Will Jacks, who partnered with Buttler in a crucial stand, praised his captain: “Jos Buttler makes it look very easy. You just have to stand there and admire it.”