England began their three-match T20I series against the West Indies with a dominant 21-run victory, largely thanks to a scintillating knock from Jos Buttler and a masterful bowling display from Liam Dawson. The win at the Riverside Ground marks a promising start to England’s new era under white-ball captain Harry Brook.
Having won the toss and elected to bat, England posted a formidable total of 188 for 6 from their 20 overs. While wickets fell at regular intervals, former captain Jos Buttler anchored the innings with a brilliant 96 off just 59 deliveries. His innings, a blend of power and deft touch, featured six fours and four sixes, providing the impetus for England’s competitive score. Buttler, playing without the added pressure of captaincy, looked back to his destructive best, narrowly missing out on a well-deserved century when he was dismissed leg-before to Alzarri Joseph in the penultimate over. Early contributions also came from Jamie Smith, who opened the innings with a brisk 38 off 20 balls.
In response, the West Indies’ chase never truly gained sustained momentum. Despite a promising partnership between Evin Lewis (39 off 23 balls) and Roston Chase (24 off 20), the visitors struggled to cope with England’s disciplined bowling attack, particularly the returning Liam Dawson. The left-arm spinner, making his first international appearance in almost three years, was the pick of the bowlers, tearing through the West Indies middle order with exceptional figures of 4 wickets for just 20 runs from his four overs. Dawson accounted for key wickets including Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Sherfane Rutherford, and Rovman Powell, effectively breaking the back of the West Indies’ chase.
Debutant Matthew Potts also impressed, chipping in with two wickets, while veteran leg-spinner Adil Rashid maintained a tight line, conceding just 22 runs from his four overs. The West Indies ultimately faltered, ending their innings on 167 for 9.
Player of the Match Liam Dawson expressed his delight at contributing to the victory, stating, “I feel really good. Really pleased to contribute to a really good win. When you get 190 on the board, you can go out there and simplify everything. You can bowl defensively, and they’ve got to come to you. Tonight, it worked. It’s been maybe three-and-a-half years since I played. I was nervous going into the game, but I’m happy to contribute.”
West Indies captain Shai Hope conceded that his side had not bowled as well as they would have liked and emphasized the need for a stronger batting performance in the upcoming matches.
England now holds a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, with the second T20I scheduled to take place in Bristol on Sunday. This comprehensive victory will undoubtedly instill confidence in the English camp as they embark on this new chapter in their T20I journey.