I Always Like To Stay Not Out In The End: Jos Buttler

After missing out on the first two matches, keeper-batsman Jos Buttler crafted a defining innings as England thrashed India to go 2-1 up in the five-match T20I series. England’s bowlers leaked runs towards the end; however, the target of 157 was by no means beyond the tourists’ reach. Jos Buttler, who stayed unbeaten at 83, said that hitting his first six gave him plenty of confidence.

England pushed India back early, removing KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, and Ishan Kishan cheaply through their pace attack. The visitors maintained the pressure on Virat Kohli, who was the glue in India’s struggling batting line-up. It was the Indian captain, who dragged through initially and provided the much-required impetus towards the end. Kohli and Hardik Pandya collected 69 off the final five overs to lift the team to 156 from being 87-5 in 15 overs.

Though Jos Buttler and Jason Roy began the tricky run-chase steadily, the former began latching on to Yuzvendra Chahal’s loose deliveries. Despite Jason Roy’s wicket, Buttler did not slow down as he and Dawid Malan added 58 for the second wicket. Malan perished to Washington Sundar; however, it brought Jonny Bairstow at the middle. The two glovemen put an unbeaten 77 to raze past 156 with almost two overs to spare.

It was nice to chance my arm a bit: Jos Buttler

Jos Buttler stated that he always likes to stay not out in the end and felt terrific to spend some time in the middle. The right-handed batsman credited the bowlers for getting England wickets in the powerplay that put pressure on India and hitting the first six delivered a world of confidence. Buttler, who handed captain Eoin Morgan the cap before the match ahead of his 100th T20I, claimed that being the first England men’s player to do so is an incredible achievement.

“It was nice to spend time in the middle and I always like to stay not out at the end. Every time you get early wickets in the powerplay, it sets you up. It just felt like a good time to attack [at the top]. It was nice to chance my arm a bit. The first six off got me up and running and gave me confidence. I just tried to get across what a special achievement it is to get to 100 matches, being the first English [men’s] player to do that,” Jos Buttler stated in the post-match presentation.

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