Jos Buttler reminded everyone why he’s known as England’s greatest ever white ball batter.
He hit a pulsating 96 while the returning Liam Dawson took four wickets as England won the first T20 against the West Indies by 21 runs in Durham.
GettyButtler hit 96 in style for England[/caption]
Batting at three, Buttler smote 22 off four deliveries from Alzarri Joseph’s (1/51) second over.
The first ball a length delivery dispatched down the ground, the second a huge mow over midwicket, after a deft scoop for four he then moved across the crease to target fine leg.
Early on it wasn’t a one-man show. Brendan McCullum once again opted to hand Jamie Smith (38) an opening spot and for the second white-ball match in a row it paid dividends.
Smith’s 28-ball 64 at The Oval was jaw-dropping and while he didn’t reach those heights his 20-ball knock helped England get off to another flier.
At 95/2 Smith’s wicket led to a mini-recovery for the West Indies who brought spin into the attack to reduce the run rate and see off Harry Brook (6) and Tom Banton (3).
Buttler found himself at the non-strikers end for too much of the second half of the innings for the crowd’s liking but had enough time to reach three figures before he went one boundary short. England ending up with 188/6.
When they came to bowl, England went to spin early.
Slow-left-armer Dawson (4/20) making his first IT20 appearance in two and a half years and first on home soil in eight had a day out.
He bowled the first over of the innings and struck in his second with a beautifully flighted delivery that tempted Johnson Charles (18) down the track, the ball pitched on a perfect length and moved away from the batter to leave him stranded.
Shai Hope (3) went early again to give Matthew Potts (2/48) a T20 debut wicket on his home ground but the West Indies batted to ten, were keeping wickets in hand and picking off the bad ball.
GettyDawson starred with the ball to help beat the West Indies[/caption]
The 10th over was an expensive one for Jacob Bethell (2/27) who conceded 24 but picked up Evin Lewis (39) who holed out.
But at the halfway stage with West Indies 91/3 the game was in the balance.
Dawson had other ideas as he picked off Roston Chase (24) and Sherfane Rutherford (2) in the same over to put England on top.
Then in his final over claiming the wicket of Rovman Powell (13) with a slider that took out off stump.
Despite batting deep the West Indies were now in trouble and England still had an over remaining for Adil Rashid (1/22) who claimed the wicket of Gudakesh Motie (3) and at the end of the over West Indies needed 57 from the last four overs.
Any hope they had went when Bethell bowled Russell (15) with one that kept low and England saw out the victory which saw them go 1-0 up with two to play.
Overseas cricket fans can listen to live commentary of every England Test this summer by tuning into the talkSPORT Cricket YouTube Channel.
The Following On Podcast hosted by Jon Norman and Steve Harmison will also be available shortly after the close of play.
