Dawson, Buttler Lead England to 21-Run Win vs WI

Liam Dawson and Jos Buttler Power England to Victory in 1st T20I Against West Indies

In a thrilling start to the five-match T20I series, England defeated the West Indies by 21 runs at Chester-le-Street on Friday. While Jos Buttler led from the front with a sublime 96-run knock, it was the sensational comeback of Liam Dawson that stole the show.

A Dream Return for Liam Dawson

After nearly three years away from the international circuit, Liam Dawson made an emphatic return with a match-winning spell of 4/20 in his four overs. The 35-year-old left-arm spinner was handed the new ball and made an instant impact, dismissing Johnson Charles early with a cleverly disguised slower delivery, which was stumped brilliantly by Jos Buttler.

Dawson’s performance didn’t just halt the West Indies’ momentum—it completely dismantled it. Returning in the middle overs, he dismissed Roston Chase, Sherfane Rutherford, and Rovman Powell, sparking a collapse that saw the Windies go from 91/2 in the 10th over to 115/6, eventually finishing on 167/9 in their chase of 188.

With this performance, Dawson became:

• The fifth England bowler with the best T20I bowling figures against West Indies
• The seventh English bowler to take a four-wicket haul against WI
• Only the second spinner after Adil Rashid to achieve this feat in T20Is vs WI

Buttler’s Blazing Knock Sets the Tone

England’s innings was anchored by captain Jos Buttler, who fell just four runs short of a well-deserved century. His 96-run innings was filled with power-packed shots, intelligent placements, and effective leadership at the crease. His effort helped England post a challenging total of 188/6, giving the bowlers a solid cushion to defend.

England Lead Series 1–0

Thanks to Dawson’s decisive spell and Buttler’s powerful batting, England now lead the series 1–0. The win sets the tone for the rest of the series, showing depth in both their batting and bowling departments. With such a confident start, England will look to carry the momentum forward.

What’s Next?

The action now shifts to Bristol on Sunday for the second T20I, followed by the series finale in Southampton on Tuesday. Fans can expect more exciting performances as both teams look to fine-tune their squads ahead of bigger international fixtures.
Liam Dawson’s incredible return and Jos Buttler’s captaincy heroics have given England a flying start in the T20I series. With confidence running high and key players in form, the hosts appear well-positioned to clinch the series. The West Indies, on the other hand, will look to regroup quickly and bounce back in the next match.

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