Twenty-hours after beginning his new role as England’s number three with a golden duck, Jos Buttler gave an altogether better demonstration of his suitability for the job. A clinic in brutal hitting, using a stable base to generate thunderous force, helped England cruise to a seven-wicket victory at Kensington Oval.
As England neared their target, Buttler’s sixes – hit flat and straight – came to seem as inevitable as the ubiquitous chants of Sweet Caroline. By the end of the evening, England felt so good too. With good reason: against a powerful West Indies side, they won both T20s in Barbados to go 2-0 up in the series.
Should they win one of the last three clashes – played in St Lucia on Wednesday and then next weekend – England will end a run of five consecutive series defeats across the formats in the Caribbean.
Yet the start to Buttler’s assault was inauspicious. He was in second ball, after Phil Salt followed his century a day earlier by lofting Akeal Hosein to extra cover.
Two balls later, Buttler could easily have been out himself, but inside-edged Hosein past his stumps. After 10 balls, Buttler had still only scored three, understandably relocating his rhythm after spending four-and-a-half months out injured with a calf injury.
Consecutive boundaries off Matthew Forde – the first crunched through point, the second edged over backward point – gave noticed of Buttler finding his stride. The impression was confirmed with a dazzling assault off Romario Shepherd to end the Powerplay. Picking a slower delivery, Buttler thumped Shepherd straight over the sightscreen.
Then, he preempted a full ball outside off stump, and scooped it over fine leg: Buttler at his most instinctive and impudent. It was the prelude to further carnage with Buttler favouring thrashing the ball straight. He launched Gudakesh Motie 115 metres, onto the roof of the three Ws stand.
When Buttler fell for 83, after failing to clear long on, he threw his bat up in disgust, such was his anger at not reaching a century and being there at the end when England won. His frustration should not linger. Buttler’s innings at Kensington Oval could come to be viewed as pivotal for England’s evolution as a side.
Since 2018, when Ed Smith opted to promote him to open, Buttler had opened in all bar four matches. His elevation was an emphatic success: Buttler averages 47.2 with a strike rate of 153 opening for England, a period that included winning the 2022 T20 World Cup. Yet now, with Salt and Will Jacks – who accelerated before Buttler did – both favouring opening and Buttler’s skills controlling the innings against spin prized, he is experimenting with batting at three. On this evidence, the new role suits England and Buttler alike.
“I’ve played all over the order, it’s just something new for me and also to give Will Jacks the opportunity to open,” Buttler explained. “He’s done fantastically well in franchise cricket, it gives Salt and Jacks the chance to really attack and know I’m behind them.
“I certainly felt a bit scratchy early on but I managed get through that bit and as soon as I got one out the middle, I felt a lot more comfortable. I really enjoyed it.
“When you’ve not played for a long time, you’re very focused on just trying to watch the ball, which is really refreshing to be honest.”
Twenty-four hours earlier, two players reared in Barbados combined to help England go 1-0 up. Now, a third with Bajan roots helped England extend their lead.
Figures of 1-31 from his four overs, after his final over leaked 12, give little sense of Jofra Archer’s hostility. A more accurate indication, perhaps, comes from the field that greeted Roston Chase when he walked out at 20-2 in the fourth over: two slips, plus Jos Buttler placing himself at short leg. The slips were placed for good reason: Chase edged in his first ball in their direction, but got such a marked top edge that he even evaded Jamie Overton’s jump.
The dismissal of Evin Lewis distilled Archer at his best. Bowling around the wicket, Archer located a lethal line and length: spearing the ball in, then seaming away and kicking up to kiss the left-hander’s glove. Lewis had already been lucky to escape the same fate from several previous deliveries. With a cocktail of swing, seam and prodigious bounce, this was Archer’s most threatening new-ball spell since his international return in May.
Bowling first at Kensington Oval allowed England’s seamers to exploit moisture in the pitch with the new ball. If anything Saqib Mahmood moved the ball even more than Archer – so much that he not only dismissed Brandon King and Roston Chase in his opening spell, but also bowled six wides, such was the amount of swing.
Buttler recognised the advantage that the toss provided; on all games of the tour so far, whether the match has been 50 overs or 20, the side to win the toss has won the match.
Archer and Mahmood both bowled unbroken throughout the Powerplay; West Indies could easily have ended the first six overs in more disarray than 44-3. Even against a side that bats so deeply, early wickets provided England a crucial fillip. Not since the 2016 World Cup final against West Indies have England lost a T20 game after taking three wickets in the Powerplay. As England build towards the 2026 T20 World Cup, they will envisage Archer and Mahmood matching this new ball potency in India and Sri Lanka.
For the second night in a row, West Indies engineered a recovery. From 102-6 after 15.2 overs, West Indies thrashed 56 in the last 4.4 overs. But England were at least able to cut off West Indies from their supply of sixes, limiting the hosts to just two in their 20 overs. This achievement would be put into a new perspective as conditions for batting eased: Buttler alone crunched half a dozen sixes.
Over two games, England have not just beaten West Indies; most unusually, they have also out-hit them. England’s total of 22 sixes hit over the weekend, to West Indies’s 14, helps to explain the most important number in the series so far: 2-0.
11:29 PM GMT
The player of the match is Jos Buttler
It’s great to spend some time in the middle. I was a bit scratchy for the first few balls but I managed to come through that and it was great to be back out there.
Will Jacks has got unbelievable talent, he’s a very dominating player. Today I thought he played really smartly; he realised I was going after it and he just wanted to get me back on strike. He’s gonna be a top player for us.
[On Dan Mousley] He’s pretty unique. There aren’t many guys who bowls like he does and I’m sure the West Indies haven’t seen much of him. One of his biggest attributes is his character; he always wants the ball, he always wants to be in the hot spot and he’s a real competitor.
11:21 PM GMT
Freak show
11:13 PM GMT
England win by seven wickets!
OVER 15: ENG 161/3 (Livingstone 23 Bethell 3) Livingstone clubs Shepherd for four, four and six to complete a spectacular victory. Winning the toss was a big advantage for England, but they still played some outstanding cricket to win with more than five overs to spare and go 2-0 up in the five-match series.
11:08 PM GMT
OVER 14: ENG 145/3 (Livingstone 8 Bethell 2)
A lovely inducker from Hinds beats Livingstone’s smear across the line and goes through Pooran for four byes. The wicketkeeping has not been of a Foakesian standard tonight.
Livingstone edges a wide yorker for four more. England are winning this at a canter; they need 14 from six overs.
11:00 PM GMT
OVER 13: ENG 132/3 (Livingstone 2 Bethell 1)
Liam Livingstone and Jacob Bethell are the new batters, in that order.
10:59 PM GMT
Wicket!
Buttler c Powell b Shepherd 83 Two wickets in the over. Jos Buttler, dropped at extra cover off the previous ball, belts a wide slower ball to long on to end an exhilarating innings of 83 from 45 balls. It shouldn’t affect the result, though you never know. England need 29 from 44 balls. FOW: 130/3
10:56 PM GMT
Wicket!
Jacks c Forde b Shepherd 38 Will Jacks drives Shepherd to long off, where Forde fumbles a simple catch but grabs it at the second attempt. Jacks can’t believe he’s given it away but he played really well, particularly at the start of the innings when England were under pressure. FOW: 129/2
10:54 PM GMT
OVER 12: ENG 127/1 (Jacks 38 Buttler 83)
Even by Jos Buttler’s standards, this is savage. He defiles Roston Chase’s last three deliveries for six, six and four to move into the eighties; in fact he’s hit 80 off the last 33 balls. But as richly enjoyable as this is for England fans, it’s a big concern that all five games on this tour have been won by the team that won the toss.
10:49 PM GMT
OVER 11: ENG 109/1 (Jacks 37 Buttler 66)
Jos Buttler has waited a long time to play cricket again, and he’s taking it out on the West Indies bowlers in a cathartic innings. He drives the debutant Terrance Hinds for four, then carts a brutal six over long-on. Jacks, who has played really well despite being overshadowed, wallops four more through extra cover. This game is all over.
10:42 PM GMT
OVER 10: ENG 94/1 (Jacks 32 Buttler 55)
Roston Chase, on for Hosein, spears a delivery down the leg side for five wides. Buttler then launches him imperiously over midwicket for six to bring up an increasingly brilliant fifty from 32 balls. He’s scored 52 from his last 23 balls in fact. England are strolling to victory.
10:37 PM GMT
OVER 9: ENG 78/1 (Jacks 31 Buttler 46)
New balls please! Buttler has just hit Mote for an almighty six over long on, the kind of shot he plays better than anyone in the world. It went out of the ground and has been recorded at 115 metres.
10:32 PM GMT
OVER 8: ENG 66/1 (Jacks 30 Buttler 35)
Buttler edges a back-foot drive for four off Hosein. After scoring 3 from his first 10 deliveries, Buttler has hit 32 off the last 15. It’s another fairly quiet over but England are in control: they need 93 from 72 balls.
10:29 PM GMT
OVER 7: ENG 60/1 (Jacks 29 Buttler 30)
That assault on Shepherd means England don’t need to take any risks in Gudakesh Motie’s first over; they’re content to take four low-risk singles.
10:25 PM GMT
OVER 6: ENG 56/1 (Jacks 27 Buttler 28)
Yep, England are strong favourites. Romario Shepherd’s first over has just disappeared for 21. Jacks clattered a boundary over mid-off; Buttler sliced another over backward point, drove a slower ball for a majestic straight six and scooped four more over the head of short fine leg. The over ended with Buttler mishitting a full toss just wide of the diving Rutherford at extra cover; Inspector Gadget might have caught it.
10:19 PM GMT
OVER 5: ENG 35/1 (Jacks 22 Buttler 12)
Jacks makes room to smash Hosein down the ground for six, the first of the innings and only the third of the match. Hosein is drying the ball between deliveries so dew must be a factor; if so England are strong favourites.
10:15 PM GMT
OVER 4: ENG 26/1 (Jacks 14 Buttler 11)
After a slow start, 3 from 10 balls, Buttler hits successive boundaries off Forde to extra cover and third man. England have composed themselves after a very jittery start to the innings.
10:12 PM GMT
OVER 3: ENG 18/1 (Jacks 14 Buttler 3)
Another boundary to Jacks, driven confidently through extra cover off Hosein. England are desperate for him to succeed, so much so that Jos Buttler has dropped to No3 to let Jacks bat where he does in franchise cricket. And pretty much every time Jacks hits a boundary you’re reminded why England are investing in him; he strikes the ball beautifully.
10:08 PM GMT
OVER 2: ENG 11/1 (Jacks 9 Buttler 1)
West Indies are all over England with the new ball. Jacks edges Forde’s first ball on the bounce to slip, then turns the next just short of the man at short fine leg.
Jacks eventually gets a stylish square drive away for four, and then times another to end the over. Lovely shots.
10:03 PM GMT
OVER 1: ENG 2/1 (Jacks 1 Buttler 1)
An arm ball from Hosein comes this close to bowling Jos Buttler. He tried to drive and got a bottom edge that bounced fractionally wide of leg stump.
09:59 PM GMT
Wicket!
Salt c King b Hosein 0 Phil Salt goes first ball! He slapped Akeal Hosein straight to extra cover, where Brandon King took the pitch at the second attempt. An unbeaten century one night, a golden duck the next. FOW: 0/1
9th November 2024: Phil Salt scores a scintillating century to win the game 💯
10th November 2024: Phil Salt is out first ball of the innings ❌
Cricket, the great leveller 😂 pic.twitter.com/DHWTs3AKqK
— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt) November 10, 2024
09:52 PM GMT
England on top
Good recovery from West Indies, with 31 runs from the last two overs. Still feels like England are on top though – especially if the dew comes, as it did last night.
09:49 PM GMT
Dan Mousley talks to TNT Sports
I tried to get my yorkers in and, though I’d like to have finished a bit better, I think I bowled nicely. I think we’d have take nthat target at the start of the game.
[How does it feel to take your first wickets in international cricket?] It’s pretty cool, to be honest. Mum and Dad are here which is really nice.
09:45 PM GMT
OVER 20: WI 158/8 (Forde 13 Hinds 5)
The debutant Terrance Hinds wallops his second ball down the ground for four. Mousley then spears a yorker down the leg side for five wides, which takes West Indies past 150.
Forde carves his third boundary in five balls to continue West Indies’ strong finish. They scored 32 from the last two overs and, though England are favourites, there is a bit in this pitch for the bowlers.
England need 159 to win.
09:41 PM GMT
Wicket!
Shepherd c Jacks b Mousley 22 Dan Mousley strikes again! An attempted yorker from round the wicket turns into a low full toss that Shepherd heaves straight to deep square leg. Five balls remaining. FOW: 143/8
09:39 PM GMT
OVER 19: WI 143/7 (Shepherd 22 Forde 5)
Sam Curran starts the penultimate over with a couple of wides. Shepherd times a wide yorker down the ground for four, a seriously good stroke, and then Forde pumps four more to the same area. A terrific over from the West Indies – 17 from it – concludes with Forde squeezing another boundary past backward point.
09:33 PM GMT
OVER 18: WI 126/7 (Shepherd 16 Forde 0)
Superb stuff from Rashid, with those four byes the only runs he conceded from his final over.
09:31 PM GMT
Wicket!
Motie c Overton b Rashid 9 Motie can’t lay a bat on four successive googlies from Rashid, the third of which runs away for four byes. Mahmood got his knee stuck in the pitch while trying to save the boundary, a sight that has made English cricket fans wince ever since Simon Jones’s horrific injury at the Gabba 22 years ago. Mahmood has left the field but hopefully it’s just a precaution.
When Motie does get bat on ball, he launches another googly miles in the air. Jamie Overton runs in from long on to take a pretty good catch. Rashid was far too good there. FOW: 126/7
09:27 PM GMT
OVER 17: WI 122/6 (Shepherd 16 Motie 9)
Jofra Archer’s final over goes for 12. He didn’t bowl badly, but Shepherd picked up successive boundaries thanks to a big edge and then a misfield from Buttler.
Archer finishes with figures of 4-0-30-1. They don’t let great but that’s the best he’s bowled so far on this tour, and the ball to dismiss Evin Lewis was a snorter.
09:23 PM GMT
OVER 16: WI 110/6 (Shepherd 5 Motie 8)
Gudakesh Motie slashes an attempted yorker for four to get off the mark, then edges an almighty hoick for four more. Mousley has bowled beautifully tonight.
09:21 PM GMT
Wicket!
Powell b Mousley 43 Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant from Dan Mousley, who has yorked Rovman Powell to take his first wicket in international cricket. Powell was completely beaten for pace; spinners really aren’t supposed to bowl 72mph yorkers. FOW: 101/6
09:19 PM GMT
OVER 15: WI 101/5 (Powell 43 Shepherd 4)
Rashid, back on for Livingstone, is blitzed over mid-off for six by Powell. He follows that with three successive twos and then a classy back cut for four. Rashid’s having a rare off day: 3-0-32-0.
09:15 PM GMT
OVER 14: WI 85/5 (Powell 27 Shepherd 4)
Romario Shepherd edges his first ball from Mousley for four. That tarnishes another really good over from Mousley, who still has terrific figures of 2-0-6-0. He’s a really intriguing below, almost unique.
09:13 PM GMT
OVER 13: WI 80/5 (Powell 26 Shepherd 0)
West Indies bat all the way down to 11 so they’ll keep going. Even soi, a lot now depends on their captain Rovman Powell.
09:10 PM GMT
Wicket!
Rutherford LBW b Livingstone 1 Powell swipes Livingstone’s first ball over midwicket for a huge six, onto the roof and out of the ground.
Livingstone has a big LBW shout turned down when the left-handed Rutherford misses a sweep at a ball that straightens sharply. England have gone for the review; this looks really close.
Closer than closer: it’s out! The only issue was whether it pitched in line or not; it did and Ruthetford has gone. FOW: 80/5
09:05 PM GMT
OVER 12: WI 71/4 (Powell 18 Rutherford 0)
Dan Mousley comes on to bowl his rapid offspin from round the wicket. His second ball, timed at 72mph, very nearly gets through Powell, and he follows that with a yorker that almost knocks Powell off his feet.
Brilliant stuff from Mousley, just a single from the over.
09:03 PM GMT
OVER 11: WI 70/4 (Powell 17 Rutherford 0)
That was the ball of the over.
09:02 PM GMT
Wicket!
Pooran st Salt b Livingstone 14 Beautifully bowled by Liam Livingstone! Nicholas Pooran strolled down the track and was beaten all ends up by an off break that gripped and turned. Phil Salt completed the stumping. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen Livingstone quite so happy after taking the wicket – as Mark Butcher says on Sky, he has just kippered a seriously good batsman. FOW: 70/4
08:56 PM GMT
OVER 10: WI 63/3 (Pooran 13 Powell 11)
Curran is doing a cracking job here. Pooran is beaten by a wider slower ball and West Indies manage only three singles from his second over.
With England on top after winning a very helpful toss, it’s time for the drinks break.
08:51 PM GMT
OVER 9: WI 60/3 (Pooran 12 Powell 9)
That maiden was Curran’s first in a T20 international since March 2021. At the other end Rashid is struggling to bowl a dot ball, never mind a maiden; his second over is quietly milked for six.
08:47 PM GMT
OVER 8: WI 54/3 (Pooran 10 Powell 5)
Sam Curran replaces Saqib Mahmood, who has 2-20 today and 6-54 in the series. He makes a brilliant start, bowling a maiden to Rovman Powell. A maiden in a T20 match in the Caribbean!
08:43 PM GMT
OVER 7: WI 54/3 (Pooran 10 Powell 5)
As usual, Adil Rashid comes on straight after the Powerplay. There’s no spin and he is milked fairly comfortably for ten runs: three twos, three singles and a wide.
08:39 PM GMT
Buttler on the attack
What a start this has been for England so far. Jofra Archer’s spell is particularly encouraging – not just for the rest of the series, but for the challenges ahead. So far, he’s been notably more hostile than in the ODI series. Very aggressive captaincy from Jos Buttler, too – Roston Chase was greeted by two slips, with Buttler himself at short leg. Archer and Mahmood bowled all six overs in the Powerplay between them: a real attempt from Buttler to kill the game now.
08:39 PM GMT
OVER 6: WI 44/3 (Pooran 5 Powell 1)
West Indies get four leg-byes when Mahmood drifts onto the pads of Powell. Pooran, relatively becalmed. digs out a beautiful inswinging before being beaten outside off stump.
It’s been a mixed performance from Mahmood, with plenty of jaffas but also a fair bit of loose stuff.
08:35 PM GMT
OVER 5: WI 39/3 (Pooran 5 Powell 0)
Pooran works Archer fine for four, then fresh-airs a violent slap across the line. He’s more circumspect for the remainder of the over, eventually playing out five successive dot balls.
08:30 PM GMT
OVER 4: WI 35/3 (Pooran 1 Powell 0)
Rovman Powell is the new batsman. It’s worth highlighting that 11 of the 35 runs scored so far have been from wides.
08:28 PM GMT
Wicket!
Chase LBW b Mahmood 13 After driving Mahmood for a couple of boundaries, Chase pushes around a straight one and is given out LBW. There’s a bit of doubt about the height so he reviews, but ball-tracking says it would just have tickled the bails. Mahmood has his second wicket. FOW: 35/3
08:22 PM GMT
OVER 3: WI 25/2 (Pooran 1 Chase 5)
Almost two wickets in two balls! Chase, cramped for room by another terrific lifter from Archer, slashes a cut through the hands of the leaping Overton at first slip. There’s plenty of life in this pitch and Pooran top-edges the last ball of the over into his grille.
08:18 PM GMT
Wicket!
Lewis c Buttler b Archer 8 Jofra Archer roars with delight after dismissing Evin Lewis with a ripper. It was just short of a length and climbed nastily to brush the glove on its way through to Phil Salt. England have started quite superbly with the ball. FOW: 20/2
08:13 PM GMT
OVER 2: WI 16/1 (Lewis 4 Pooran 1)
An inswinger from Mahmood to Pooran zips down the leg side for five wides. That’s one of four wides in the over, but when Mahmood gets his line right he has a bit LBW appeal against Lewis turned down. It was a beautiful inswinger, just a bit too high.
08:09 PM GMT
Wicket!
King c Livingstone b Mahmood 1 Saqib Mahmood strikes second ball! Brandon King launches a length delivery miles and miles in the air, and Livingstone backpedals from mid-off to take a well-judged catch. That’s Mahmood’s fifth wicket of this fledgling series. FOW: 6/1
08:06 PM GMT
OVER 1: WI 6/0 (King 1 Lewis 4)
There has been loads of rain in Barbados in the last few days so there might be a bit of moisture in the pitch.
Archer’s first over is a beauty, with plenty of bounce and movement. Lewis edges a lifting delivery through the vacant second slip region for four, then plays and misses at a jaffa that straightens from round the wicket.
08:01 PM GMT
Time for action
Jofra Archer, back in the side today, will bowl the first over.
07:55 PM GMT
Pitch report
It’s a different surface to the one that was used last night, but the former West Indies allrounder Carlos Brathwaite thinks it looks like another absolute belter.
07:42 PM GMT
England hope toss trend continues
Win the toss, win the game? Let’s hope it’s not that simple – but all four tossers have won the game across England’s tour so far. Jos Buttler will hope that trend continues. Jofra Archer returns for Reece Topley to increase England’s number of players with Bajan links to three. West Indies now have two, with Roston Chase and Matthew Forde both selected today – no Andre Russell.
07:37 PM GMT
The teams
Terrance Hinds makes his debut for West Indies, one of three changes from last night’s game. Roston Chase and Matthew Forde also come in. The men missing out are Shimron Hetmyer, Andre Russell (who’s injured) and Shamar Joseph.
West Indies King, Lewis, Pooran (wk), Rutherford, Powell (c), Shepherd, Chase, Hinds, Hosein, Motie, Forde.
England Salt (wk), Jacks, Buttler (c), Bethell, Livingstone, Curran, Mousley, Overton, Archer, Rashid, Mahmood.
07:33 PM GMT
England win the toss and bowl
Big toss to win. Jofra Archer comes into the side for Reece Topley.
07:14 PM GMT
Salt and Bethell make hay on happy homecoming
In the T20 series in the Caribbean last year, Phil Salt hit two centuries in the space of three days, his first two professional hundreds in the format. Salt’s third, reached in only 53 balls, added to his magnificent record against West Indies in T20, and confirmed his growing standing in the format. He is increasingly adept not just leading an assault in the Powerplay but in controlling the innings thereafter.
Read more…
06:38 PM GMT
Good evening
Hello and welcome to Telegraph Sport’s live, over-by-over coverage of the second T20 international between West Indies and England in Barbados. Phil Salt’s third T20I hundred gave England a handsome victory last night, though it’s hard to know just how well they played because the toss was so important.
All four matches on England’s white-ball tour have been won by the team batting second, and winning the toss is an especially big advantage in day-night games. Tonight’s match could be decided before a ball is bowled.
Salt lived in Barbados from the age of 9 to 15, and the innings meant the world to him. “That is the cricket equivalent of the 30-yard screamer at Maine Road in the 89th minute,” said Salt, who is a big Manchester City fan. “That’s what you dream of as a kid. I think you could probably see the celebration what it meant, something you can’t really put into words without sounding too cheesy.
Jacob Bethell, who was born in Barbados and had friends and family at last night’s game, supported Salt with a superb unbeaten 58. “Good on him, I love that,” said Salt. “I’m more pleased for him than I am myself right now, seeing that. There’s a lot of happy people with smiling faces. The head on his shoulders, the way he talks, the way he thinks about the game. He’s not a 21-year-old in that regard.
“Just the way he goes out there, keeps it so simple, so clear, and just lets his skill come out. I don’t think that’s something a lot of 21-year-olds who are playing international cricket have.”
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