England captain Jos Buttler produced a stunning 83 off 45 balls to lead his side to a seven-wicket win over the West Indies in the second T20 at Kensington Oval, Barbados, giving England a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. Buttler’s blistering knock helped England chase down West Indies’ total of 158-8 with 31 balls to spare.
The West Indies’ innings was anchored by Rovman Powell, who scored 43 from 41 balls, but their efforts with the bat were hampered by early wickets.
After opting to bowl first, England’s seamers made the most of the conditions, reducing the hosts to 35-3 in the powerplay.
Saqib Mahmood got the breakthrough early, dismissing Brandon King off his second delivery, and Jofra Archer followed up with the wicket of Evin Lewis. West Indies’ struggles continued as Mahmood trapped Gudakesh Motie lbw and Livingstone claimed Nicholas Pooran’s wicket.
Powell steadied the ship with a determined knock but fell to a well-executed yorker from Dan Mousley, who claimed his maiden international wicket.
A late surge from Romario Shepherd, Matthew Forde, and debutant Terrance Hinds helped West Indies reach a more respectable total, but 158-8 was always going to be a challenging total against a powerful England lineup.
The chase began with a setback for England as Phil Salt fell to the first ball of the innings, but Buttler quickly took control, blasting eight fours and six sixes. He dominated a 129-run partnership with opener Will Jacks, who contributed 38 from 29 balls.
Buttler’s brilliant knock saw him reach his fifty from just 32 balls, with two back-to-back sixes off Roston Chase, giving the impression that he was on course for a second T20I hundred in as many days.
However, Buttler’s innings came to an end when he skied a slower ball from Shepherd, falling for 83. Despite this, the damage had been done, and England required only 31 more runs to seal victory.
Livingstone provided the finishing touch, blasting an unbeaten 23 off 11 balls to secure the win and complete England’s chase in 14.5 overs.
The win puts England in a commanding position in the series, with two victories under their belt ahead of the remaining three matches in St Lucia.
Buttler’s return to form after a slow start to the series has been a significant boost for the visitors, and his performance at number three, despite initial doubts, has raised questions about his long-term role in the batting order.
In contrast, West Indies captain Powell expressed frustration at his team’s inability to click in all three departments, but remained optimistic about the remaining games.
“We need to show heart, determination not to go 3-0 down. St Lucia provides a new challenge, and we have the series still in our hands,” he said.
Buttler, reflecting on his innings, noted the importance of spending time in the middle and playing what was in front of him. “I enjoyed it once I got through the early period,” he said. “It’s great to be back in form and contributing to the team’s success.”
With the series now moving to St Lucia, both teams will be looking to bounce back, with England looking to seal the series and West Indies aiming to stage a comeback.
