Jos Buttler top-scored once more as England chased down an imposing goal and beat West Indies by 4 wickets within the second T20 on Sunday to take a 2-0 lead and seal the three-match series, persevering with their wonderful kind below new captain Harry Brook.
Former captain Buttler’s 47 from 36 balls at Bristol’s County Ground got here on the again of his 96 within the first T20 in Durham and set the platform for England to hunt down West Indies’ total of 196-6 with 9 balls to spare.
It was a second straight series victory for England below the captaincy of Brook after they secured a 3-0 series sweep within the one-dayers.
Jacob Bethell hit an exciting 26 from 10 balls, which included three sixes, as England unfold the runs all through the workforce with Ben Duckett (30), Brook (34) and Tom Banton (30) offering strong backup.
“We had a lot of fun out there,” stated Brook. “They had a very good finish. We stuck to our plans through the middle really well. They didn’t get away.
“We had a dialogue earlier than going out to bat that it was solely a matter of a few big overs. We chased the rating superbly. It was an excellent efficiency.”
England, who won the toss and chose to bowl, got off to the perfect start with Luke Wood, who was the hosts’ standout bowler with 2-25 in his first appearance since September 2023, striking Evin Lewis on the pads with the day’s first delivery, but the tourists quickly steadied the ship.
Shai Hope took the fight to England with 49 off 38 balls, while Johnson Charles started patiently before he also fell just short of his half century, with 47 from 39 deliveries.
The West Indies innings threatened to stall at that point but a rollicking finish peppered with sixes from Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd and Jason Holder saw them power to a healthy total, even considering the County Ground’s short boundaries.
“I assumed we had been a couple of runs quick, with the size and the pitch being a good one,” said West Indies captain Shai Hope.
“I do not suppose we capitalised on the center overs with the spin, however no matter we’ve on the board we’ve to defend it… We have to attempt to bounce again, win the sport and end the tour sturdy, setting the tone as a workforce.”
Batting depth
England lost Jamie Smith for four in the second over as he tried to hit one down the ground but was caught by Holder. That brought Buttler to the crease and he wasted little time in taking the attack to the tourists, with England ending the powerplay on 58-1.
The hosts’ progress was interrupted as they were reduced to 72-2 when Duckett fell after a brisk 30 from 18 balls trying to smash Shepherd for six only to draw a superb diving catch from Powell who plucked the ball out of the air on the run.
Buttler was handed a reprieve in the 10th over when Charles fumbled and dropped what should have been an easy take in the deep but the England batsman did not last much longer.
He was out for trying to sweep Akeal Hosein and his dismissal offered redemption for Charles, who this time held on to the catch.
Brook was then caught at long-off as Powell pulled off another good catch off the bowling of Roston Chase, before England stepped up a gear.
Four sixes in six balls turned momentum in their favour with Banton hitting Gudakesh Motie over the rope before Bethell dished out a double punishment to Alzarri Joseph.
Yet after another ball sailed for six in the same over, Joseph got his revenge, taking the wicket of Bethell, who was out when he was caught behind by Chase attempting a reverse lob.
That left England on 169 for five after 16 overs and by the time Will Jacks (7) was caught by Chase off Joseph England needed just nine runs from 16 balls.
They moved comfortably within striking distance before Brydon Carse hit the winning runs, swinging at a delivery from Holder that looped back over the wicketkeeper for four.
Published – June 09, 2025 02:33 am IST
