He worked through the difficult period and then took the game apart.
Jos Buttler walked to the crease in Barbados with his side already one wicket down from the very first ball, and what followed was the kind of innings that reminds you why he captains this team. His 83 off 45 deliveries — eight fours, six sixes — carried England to a seven-wicket victory over West Indies, knocking off a target of 159 with 31 balls to spare and pushing the tourists to a 2-0 lead in the five-match T20I series.
The match had started with England in the field, and their bowlers made an immediate statement. Saqib Mahmood was expensive early — eight wides in his opening over — but he found his rhythm quickly enough, dismissing Brandon King for one when the opener skied to Liam Livingstone at mid-off. Jofra Archer, back in the side after Reece Topley's role in the first game, removed Evin Lewis for eight in the next over, a glove down the leg side taken by Phil Salt behind the stumps. Roston Chase then survived an edge off his first ball before being trapped lbw by Mahmood for 13. West Indies were 35 for three inside four overs.
Nicholas Pooran and captain Rovman Powell steadied things somewhat, adding 35 for the fourth wicket before Livingstone intervened. Pooran prodded forward and was stumped by Salt for 14. Livingstone then reviewed successfully to have Shimron Hetmyer's replacement Sherfane Rutherford out lbw for one in his very next over, finishing with figures of 2 for 16. Powell, whose T20 strike rate sits above 140, showed what he can do by carving Adil Rashid for 16 in a single over and taking West Indies past the hundred mark — but Dan Mousley ended that innings with a well-directed yorker, the fast-bowling spinner claiming his first international wicket. The lower order added 73 runs across the final six overs to drag the total to 158 for 8, giving the home side something to defend.
England's reply began disastrously. Alzarri Joseph's replacement Gudakesh Motie's fellow spinner Akeal Hosein struck with the very first delivery, Salt chipping tamely to King at extra cover for a golden duck — a jarring contrast to the unbeaten century Salt had made in the series opener two days earlier. Buttler himself nearly toe-ended onto his stumps in that same chaotic first over.
What came next was a dismantling. Buttler hit three consecutive boundaries to close out the powerplay, and he and Will Jacks — who contributed a composed 38 — put on 129 for the second wicket from just 72 deliveries. Buttler brought up his half-century off 32 balls, clearing the rope off Motie, Chase, and debutant Terrance Hinds in quick succession. The partnership ended when Jacks was caught at the boundary off Matthew Forde, and Buttler followed shortly after — caught by Powell attempting to go big down the ground — but by then the game was effectively over. Two wickets fell in four balls, yet West Indies could not press the advantage.
Liam Livingstone, who had already done his work with the ball, came in and finished the job with the bat, hitting Romario Shepherd for two boundaries and then a six to seal the win with England still more than five overs in hand.
After the match, Buttler was candid about his own start. He acknowledged being scratchy in those opening deliveries but said he worked through the difficult period and found real enjoyment once he settled. He was careful not to let the 2-0 lead breed complacency, noting that West Indies are a formidable T20 side who will come back harder in the third game.
Powell, for his part, pointed to a familiar problem. The Barbados surface tends to assist pace bowling early, and losing three wickets in the powerplay has proven fatal in both matches. He was direct about what needs to change: someone in the top order must bat deep into the innings, and the next three games are the opportunity to prove that can happen.
England travel to St Lucia on Thursday, where a win would seal the series with two games still to play.
Notable Quotes
I was a bit scratchy for the first few balls but I managed to come through that period and really enjoyed it. We have to be ready from ball one in the next game.— Jos Buttler, England captain and player of the match
It's a case of us trying to come out of the powerplay not three down. Somebody in the top four or five needs to bat the majority of the overs.— Rovman Powell, West Indies captain
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Salt scored a century in game one and was out first ball in game two. What does that tell us about T20 cricket?
It tells you the format has no memory. The conditions in Barbados favour pace early, and Hosein found the right length on the very first delivery. Salt had no time to settle.
Buttler was nearly out in that same over. How did he turn the innings around so quickly?
He seems to have a gear for exactly that situation — absorb the chaos, then attack. Three boundaries in a row to end the powerplay is a statement of intent, not luck.
The 129-run stand with Jacks is the real story, isn't it?
It is. Jacks doesn't always get the headlines but he held his end while Buttler played the more expansive role. That kind of partnership is what chases down targets with overs to spare.
West Indies posted 73 runs in the last six overs. Does that suggest England's bowling tired?
More that the lower order found some freedom once the pressure of the top order collapse had passed. Mousley and Overton took wickets but the tail swung hard. It's a pattern Powell will want to reverse — start better, not just finish well.
Powell hitting Rashid for 16 in one over — is that a warning sign for England?
Rashid is experienced enough to absorb one bad over. But yes, Powell showed what he's capable of. If West Indies can keep wickets in hand through the powerplay, that kind of hitting becomes genuinely dangerous.
Livingstone had a remarkable match — wickets with the ball, runs with the bat. Is he England's most complete T20 cricketer right now?
On this evidence, hard to argue otherwise. He's bowling with control, fielding sharply, and finishing innings. He's doing the unglamorous work that makes the headline performances possible.
What does Powell mean when he says someone needs to bat the majority of the overs?
He means West Indies need an anchor. Both games they've lost top wickets early and never fully recovered. A batter who can go from over two to over eighteen changes everything about how a T20 innings is constructed.
England can wrap up the series in St Lucia on Thursday. Does that change how they approach the game?
Buttler said they have to start again from ball one. Whether they actually do is the interesting question. A 2-0 lead can breed just enough comfort to let a good team back in.