Jos Buttler, the England wicketkeeper-batsman has heaped praise on Dawid Malan and Moeen Ali for providing support from the other end after playing an unbeaten match-winning knock of 77 in the second T20I against Australia. Chasing a moderate target of 158 at Ageas Bowl, Southampton, Jos Buttler played a quickfire knock of 77 runs off 54 balls studded with two sixes and eight fours.
Jos Buttler has featured in 47 Tests, 142 ODIs and 71 T20Is. He has two centuries in Tests and nine tons in ODIs where he averages 40.88. He averages less than 30 in T20Is where he is yet to score a century. His highest being 77 not out which came recently in the second T20I against Australia.
Jos Buttler Credits Dawid Malan And Moeen Ali For Forging Crucial Partnerships
Also, Buttler had an 87-run crucial partnership with Dawid Malan for the second wicket. Malan smashed 42 off 32 balls at a strike rate of 131.25. Jos Buttler had a 23-run brief partnership with Moeen Ali to steer England to victory. All-rounder Ali remained unbeaten on 13 runs off six balls as England chased down the target in 18.5 overs.
“Best place to bat in T20s, wicket got a bit better and that was a manageable target. The guys bowled well up top and pegged them back. If we got through 2-3 opening overs and settled down, we got a partnership going with Dawid and that set us up.
“Every time Dawid’s got a chance he does brilliantly, and at the end Moeen said he was happy to take on the leg-spinner turning it into him,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Buttler as saying after the match.
“When someone hits those two boundaries it takes the pressure off. The game can change quickly, bit of a tricky surface so you want to take ownership and see your team over the line,” he added.
England defended 162 in the first T20I while beating Australia by six wickets chasing 158. Jos Buttler is the top run-scorer with 121 runs while Malan is placed second with 108 runs.
Jos Buttler Will Not Play 3rd T20I But Before That Ashton Agar Names Him As England’s Best White-ball Cricketer
Earlier in the day, Australia spinner Ashton Agar termed Jos Buttler as England’s best white-ball player currently. Ashton Agar, who debuted back in 2013 had played his last Test in 2017 but was named in a 26-man preliminary squad of players — to begin training ahead of a tour to England following the COVID-19 pandemic. He was finally named in the 21-man squad to tour England.
“Buttler is an incredible player, he can hit all around the ground, he is difficult to bowl to, he finishes the games off, he is often there at the end taking England over the line, hats off to him, he is an incredible player. He is probably their best white-ball player currently,” Agar said in a virtual press conference on Monday.
When asked how difficult it is to bowl to Buttler, Agar replied: “It is tough, we know he is a gun player, there is no question about that, however, your belief in yourself can be your biggest asset or weakness. Sometimes guys play really well and you need to appreciate them.”
Jos Buttler will miss the third and final T20I against Australia as he left the bio-secure bubble in Southampton, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced.
Australia have already lost the three-match T20I series against England after finishing second best in both of the first two matches. The third and final T20I of the three-match series will be played on Tuesday at Ageas Bowl in Southampton.