Chester-le-Street – England’s star wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler delivered a match-winning knock of 96 runs in the first T20I against West Indies on Friday, but it came with a bittersweet twist. While his innings powered England to a 21-run victory at the Riverside Ground, Buttler also found himself etched in an unwanted part of England’s T20I history.
Buttler’s Lone Stand Highlights England’s Innings
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, England faced early trouble with the loss of opener Ben Duckett in the second over. However, Jos Buttler partnered effectively with Jamie Smith, crafting an 80-run stand that revived England’s innings.
Smith contributed a quickfire 38 before falling in the eighth over, after which England faced a flurry of wickets. Despite the middle-order collapse, Buttler anchored the innings, smashing six boundaries and four sixes. He was on track for a well-deserved century but was dismissed on 96 by Alzarri Joseph in the 19th over—just four runs shy of a landmark.
Jacob Bethell provided a late push with an 11-ball 23 as England posted a competitive total of 188/6 in their 20 overs.
An Unwanted Milestone for Buttler
While Buttler’s 96-run knock was one of his finest in recent memory, it placed him in an unfortunate club. He became the first England wicketkeeper-batter to be dismissed in the 90s in a T20 International. He also became only the fourth England player overall to fall in the 90s in T20Is, joining the likes of Alex Hales, Eoin Morgan, and Jonny Bairstow in this rare but unwanted list.
West Indies Struggle in the Chase
In reply, the West Indies never found rhythm. Wickets fell at regular intervals, and aside from a fiery 39 from opener Evin Lewis, no batter could withstand England’s bowling attack.
Left-arm spinner Liam Dawson was the star with the ball, claiming career-best figures of 4/20 in his 12th T20I appearance. He was well supported by Matthew Potts and Jacob Bethell, who took two wickets each.
West Indies were eventually restricted to 167/9, falling short by 21 runs and handing England a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
England Continue Dominance on Home Soil
The T20I victory follows England’s 3-0 sweep of the ODI series earlier in the tour, maintaining their unbeaten run against the Caribbean side. The second T20I will be played on June 8 in Bristol, with the final match of the series scheduled for June 10 in Southampton.
For Jos Buttler, the innings was a reminder of his class and composure, even if the elusive T20I century remains out of reach—for now.
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