England registered a commanding eight-wicket win in their Super Eight match against West Indies at T20 World Cup 2024 in Gros Islet. Set a challenging 181 to win, England got home with Phil Salt finishing unbeaten on 87, with Bairstow in tow with a 26-ball 48 not out. The two added 97 off 44 balls to see England home with eight wickets and 2.3 overs to spare.
“That was a really good performance from us,” Buttler said at the post-match presentation. “We planned really well, we’ve been practising well and executed both with the bat and ball and deserved to win. I thought we bowled really well to restrict such a powerful batting line-up, such great six-hitters especially. [It was a] decent score, and you had to play well to chase it down.
“I thought we were very smart with the bat. Guys were very calculated when they took their options on. The Bairstow and Salt partnership was so good. Jonny came in with great intent and took the momentum straight back. Salty tucked in behind him for a bit and when he got that one big over, he broke the back of it.
“A lot of people say you learn when you lose, but I truly believe you learn when you win as well. [It is] important to reflect on what we did well today. We had a good performance, put that to bed and focus on the next performance.”
Talking about Bairstow, Buttler said: “He is a class player, he has been for a really long time. That’s what we decided to do, you just keep backing class players. He hasn’t had many opportunities but today was an incredibly impressive innings. A really mature, senior player’s innings. With a lot of power, he scored at a great gear when the game was just in the balance.”
Adil Rashid gets a pair of high fives from his captain, Australia vs England, T20 World Cup 2024, Bridgetown, June 8, 2024
Earlier, riding on a fluent start from Brandon King, who retired hurt with a side strain, Johnson Charles and Nicholas Pooran had helped West Indies race to 72 for 0 in eight overs. But the next five overs – bowled by Rashid and Moeen Ali in tandem – saw them score just 34 for the wicket of Charles. Rashid bowled the 17th over too, for just two runs and the wicket of Andre Russell to finish with figures of 4-0-21-1.
“We keep saying [Rashid] is our most important player, he really has been for a long time,” Buttler said. “He’s got so much variation and so much threat of taking wickets and also restricting runs.”
Meanwhile, West Indies captain Rovman Powell felt they were 15 to 20 runs short and strayed away from their plans against Salt.
“We left 15-20 runs out there as a batting group,” Powell said. “I will say that we should have put up a better display as a bowling group. We are normally very good in the last five overs, but credit has to be given to the England bowling unit. They had clear plans, and the execution was good.
After their under-par finish with the bat, they offered lives to Salt and Moeen, with wicketkeeper Pooran unable to hold on to thin deflections on both occasions.
“Those chances are always difficult,” Powell said. “But credit has to be given to Phil, he seems to like playing against West Indies. Every time he plays against West Indies, he always hurts us. We strayed away a little bit from our plans to Phil. It’s just for us to look back at those plans and re-evaluate.
“Our destiny is in our hands. Once we win well, it will bring us back. We are playing good cricket
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Buttler Hails Bairstow’s “Senior Player’s Innings” and Calls Rashid England’s “Most Important Player”
England captain Jos Buttler lauded his team’s performance after a dominant eight-wicket victory over West Indies in their T20 World Cup 2024 Super Eight clash. Buttler praised both Jonny Bairstow’s crucial knock and Adil Rashid’s impactful bowling display.
England’s Commanding Chase
Set a target of 181, England chased it down with ease thanks to a superb batting display from Phil Salt (87* off 54) and Jonny Bairstow (48* off 26). Their 97-run partnership in just 44 balls sealed the win for England with 2.3 overs to spare.
Buttler Reflects on a Well-Rounded Performance
Buttler, during the post-match presentation, expressed his satisfaction with the team’s overall performance. He acknowledged the well-executed plans with both bat and ball, highlighting the successful bowling strategy to restrict a powerful West Indies batting line-up.
Bairstow’s Innings Earns High Praise
Buttler reserved special praise for Jonny Bairstow’s knock, calling it a “mature, senior player’s innings.” He commended Bairstow’s experience and ability to take control of the chase at a crucial moment. Buttler emphasized the team’s faith in Bairstow’s class, a quality that shone through despite limited recent opportunities.
Another key player for England was Adil Rashid. Buttler reiterated Rashid’s importance to the team, hailing him as their “most important player.” Rashid’s skillful bowling, offering variations and wicket-taking threats, proved crucial in restricting the West Indies batsmen. His figures of 4-0-21-1, including the crucial dismissal of Andre Russell, were a testament to his effectiveness.
West Indies Rue Missed Opportunities
West Indies captain Rovman Powell conceded their shortcomings, acknowledging they fell short by 15-20 runs with the bat. He also admitted their bowling attack wasn’t at its best, failing to execute their plans effectively, particularly against Phil Salt. Powell highlighted missed opportunities, including dropped catches, that could have altered the course of the match.
Despite the defeat, Powell remains optimistic about West Indies’ chances. He believes their destiny is still in their own hands and that a strong performance in their next match can get them back on track.