Jos Buttler made his return to England’s white-ball setup for the first time since the 2024 T20 World Cup through his team’s series-opening first T20I against West Indies. Buttler’s comeback party, however, was crashed by West Indies spinner Gudakesh Motie.
Stationed at third man, Motie grabbed a sensational catch to get rid of the English captain for a first-ball duck at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.
Gudakesh Motie’s ‘Superhuman’ effort stuns Jos Buttler
How did he catch that? 🤯
An absolute ripper of a grab from Gudakesh Motie sent danger man Jos Buttler back to the pavilion!👊🏻#WIvENGonFanCode pic.twitter.com/pyLpjw7bYp
— FanCode (@FanCode) November 10, 2024
Chasing 183 for a win, England blazed to a 73-run powerplay start courtesy of a no-holds-barred approach from openers Phil Salt and Will Jacks.
Following the dismissal of Jacks at the end of the sixth over, captain Jos Buttler made his way into the crease at a time when the visitors still required another 110 runs from the remaining 14 overs.
With Salt going great guns at the other end, the English skipper slashed Romario Shepherd off his first ball towards the third man region for an attempted boundary.
However, an agile Gudakesh Motie covered good ground and caught the soaring ball with his outstretched left hand to get rid of Buttler.
Moments earlier, Gudakesh Motie also knocked over Will Jacks to account for the only other English wicket that fell on the evening. Despite the best of Motie’s efforts with the ball and on the field, the visitors cruised to an emphatic eight-wicket victory with more than three overs to spare.
Phil Salt whacked an unbeaten 103* from just 54 balls with nine boundaries and six sixes to orchestrate the great English run-chase. Jacob Bethell at number four also found time to smear 58* off 36 balls with five boundaries and two sixes.
Earlier in the match, West Indies carted 182-9 from their 20 overs courtesy of valuable 30s from Nicholas Pooran (38 off 29), Romario Shepherd (35* off 22), Gudakesh Motie (33 off 14) and comeback man Andre Russell (30 off 17).
Trailing 0-1 in the five-match series, hosts West Indies will now face England in the second T20I on November 10 at the same Bridgetown venue.