England’s opening batter Jos Buttler admitted that being patient was the key after he scored his first T20I hundred against Sri Lanka at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Monday.
Sri Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka won the toss and decided to bowl first. But, England didn’t get off to a good start as they lost three wickets and could only score 47 runs in the first 10 overs.
However, Jos Buttler once again proved his mettle and continued his sublime form to get his team out of the jail. Buttler was able to change gears after settling in and took the attack against the opposition batters. The wicket-keeper batter was able to add 112 runs with Eoin Morgan and helped his team get back into the contest.
Buttler scored six fours and as many sixes as he scored 101 runs off just 67 balls and played a key role in helping England post a fighting score of 163 runs. In fact, the England vice-captain brought his fifty off 45 balls but then flipped a switch to score his next 51 runs off just 22 balls as he showed his pyrotechnics. Buttler has scored 214 runs in four matches and he is the highest run-getter of the tournament.
Buttler admitted that it was really tough early on in the innings but he was able to score runs quickly after settling at the crease. On the other hand, Sri Lanka was skittled out for 137 runs and the Eoin Morgan-led team won by 26 runs. Thus, England has now won four out of their four matches in the Super 12 stage and has qualified for the semifinals.
Jos Buttler was awarded the Player of the Match for his fine knock. Buttler said in the post-match presentation, “I think staying patient was the key (when England lost early wickets), but I managed to get a partnership with Morgan. I found it really tough early on in the innings. There was a point when we were thinking to get to the 120-run mark, but then we got going and got 160-plus.
I use the same bat, even in the nets. It feels good. We were under pressure for a long part of that chase knowing that Moeen had to bowl that over (after Mills left the field due to injury) so to take that wicket (Shanaka’s run-out) was crucial and I was delighted with that. Was just trying to guess where he (Chameera) was going to bowl. I was pretty calm, I think at that stage I had batted for long, so staying patient was the key, and hope he (Chameera) will miss his (length/ yorker)”.
England certainly looks like a side to watch out for and they will aim to go all the way. The English team is ticking the right boxes and they have continued to play aggressive cricket and thus they are reaping the rewards.
England will next face South Africa on Saturday.
