ENG vs AUS 2018: We had to Fight Hard, but 40 Runs was a Good Victory Margin in the End - Jos Buttler

England took a 2-0 lead in the five-match ODI series against Australia after registering a 38-run victory in the 2^nd ODI at the Sophia Gardens in Cardiff.

The win was built around a sensational century from the blade of Jason Roy and an incredible 91 by Jos Buttler. Australia gave a tough fight courtesy a sublime knock from Shaun Marsh. However, the score of 342 proved to be way too much for the visitors. Eventually, England won by 38 runs.

It was Aussie skipper, Tim Paine who won the toss and put the hosts in. The opening duo of Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy got the hosts off to a splendid start. Both the batsmen played some delightful shots and shared a 63-run partnership between them in just 8.2 overs before the dismissal of Bairstow. He smashed 42 off 24 deliveries which included eight fours and a six.

Jason Roy played a blinder of a knock and build his innings perfectly. Wickets fell here and there, but Roy was the constant until Jos Buttler joined him in the middle.

The duo shared a 50-run partnership before Roy got dismissed at the score of 120 off 108 deliveries. His knock studded with 14 fours and a couple of sixes.

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It was Jos Buttler who provided the much needed late impetus with a stupendous knock of 91 off 70 deliveries. His innings included eight fours and a couple of sixes. In the end, England eventually finished on 342/8 in their allotted 20 overs. Most of the Australian bowlers went for a tap. Andrew Tye conceded 81 runs in his nine overs.

Australia didn’t really begin the way they would have liked. But after the fall of the opening wicket, it was Shaun Marsh who took the onus of himself to take Australia to a comfortable position. He started off brilliantly with a few exquisite boundaries. Wickets kept falling at the other end but Marsh was hardly bothered.

The southpaw’s innings of 131 came in 116 deliveries which were studded with ten fours and three sixes. It was the partnership of 96 runs with Ashton Agar which got Australia pretty close to the target. However, the English bowlers made a good comeback and bowled them out for 304.

Liam Plunkett was the pick of the English bowlers with 4/52 while Adil Rashid bagged three wickets. However, he went for 70 runs.

It is what the English stand-in skipper, Jos Butler said at the post-match presentation ceremony following the victory,

“They were playing really well, Agar and Marsh. 10 an over is very achievable, especially the way Marsh was going. We had to fight hard, but 40 runs was a good victory margin in the end.

Adil (Rashid) took the pressure off bowling at the end, and Liam continues to be one of our strike bowlers. Two great wicket-takers in recent times for us. Great to see Jason back amongst the runs. He looked good from ball one and he paced it really well.

We could’ve got a few more. Australia bowled well in the end. Fantastic innings by Roy. Always nice to contribute, enjoying the captaincy. It’s a little tricky at times, always need that extra fielder, but happy to do it and happy to go 2-0 up. We’re just always striving to get better.”

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