Twitter Reactions: Jos Buttler and bowlers give England comprehensive win in opener

England started their three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka on a grand note, winning the first game by eight wickets with 17 balls left. At the Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, the Brits’ bowlers restricted the visitors to an under-par score of 129 for seven in 20 overs. Thereafter, Jos Buttler’s unbeaten 55-ball 68 made sure that the Three Lions didn’t suffer many hiccups in the run-chase.

Shanaka plays a lone hand

After electing to bat first, Lanka got off to a poor start as Sam Curran sent back Avishka Fernando for a duck. Danushka Gunathilaka promised with a 16-ball 19 before Chris Jordan induced a top-edge of him. Thereafter, Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva couldn’t breach the single-digit score either.

At the other end, Kusal Perera, the Lankan skipper, tried his heart out to bail his team out of jail. But he perished for a 26-ball 30 with Sri Lanka scoring at a run-a-ball in the 14th over. The second half of the innings was about Dasun Shanaka trying to take his team to respectability.

The right-hander scored 50 off 44 with three fours and two sixes. To his dismay, he didn’t get much support from the others. For England, veteran leg-spin bowler Adil Rashid was the standout performer with two wickets at an economy of 4.25.

Buttler comes to the party

Chasing the modest target, the home team gained the upper hand in the powerplay itself, scoring 61 runs. Jason Roy and Jos Buttler made sure of not giving Lanka a chance to make a comeback. It was Dushmantha Chameera, who gave the visitors some breather after he got rid of Roy.

The latter was batting on 36 at a strike rate of 163.63 with four fours and one six. However, Buttler carried on in his own merry way. The right-hander notched his half-century off 38 balls and dominated the Lankan bowlers. His knock was laced with eight fours and one six.

Dawid Malan, the ICC’s no.1 ranked T20I batter, couldn’t make an impact as Isuru Udana rattled his woodwork. Jonny Bairstow, who recovered from an ankle sprain, stayed not out on a 12-ball 13, giving the home team a crucial 1-0 lead in the ongoing series.

Here’s how the netizens reacted to England’s win:

Jos Buttler scored a match winning unbeaten 68 in 55 balls against Sri Lanka to take England home. Sam Curran picked 2/25 with the ball earlier, Adil Rashid also picked two wickets.

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 24, 2021

Jos Buttler has now played 20 innings as an opener in T20Is with 795 runs & 9 fifty-plus scores, averaging 53 & striking at 150. Of the 61 batsmen to have played 20+ innings as opener in T20Is, none average better than Buttler's 53 & only six others have scored quicker.#ENGvSL

— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) June 23, 2021

Jos Buttler opening for England in T20Is: 20 innings, 794 runs, 52.93 average, 150.00 strike rate, 9 fifties

— Matt Roller (@mroller98) June 23, 2021

Jos Buttler earlier today was in top form. Roy was smashing Liam was bowling well.

— Joshua Layfield (@JDontPlayField) June 24, 2021

So England have been below strength in Tests against India and New Zealand but have made sure they are at full strength against what looks a desperately poor Sri Lanka T20 side. Go figure….

— Paul Newman 🌈 (@Paul_NewmanDM) June 23, 2021

New playing kit of #England and #SriLanka for #T20 Cricket… Looks great and amazing… colour combinations 👌. After a long time both the teams looks stunning in their new playing jersey 👌 #ENGvSL

— I (@ISophrosyne) June 24, 2021