Following England’s win over Sri Lanka in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 clash at Sharjah, skipper Eoin Morgan heaped rich praise on keeper-opener Jos Buttler, saying that it’s a privilege to have him in the side.
England once again displayed a dominant performance thumping Sri Lanka by 28 runs to win their fourth consecutive match and inch one step closer to the semi-finals.
Batting first, England was in all sorts of trouble as they failed to counter the Sri Lankan spinners and were reduced to 47/3 at the end of the 10th over. Jos Buttler then joined hands with skipper Eoin Morgan and bailed his team out of the trouble, scoring 112 runs for the partnership.
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While Morgan perished after scoring 40 runs, Buttler took Sri Lankan bowlers to cleaners to register his maiden T20I century, remaining unbeaten on 101*, hitting a six off the last ball of the innings to reach the milestone, helping his team post a total of 163 runs.
Defending the target, English bowlers displayed great skills with the ball and took wickets at regular intervals to bowl out Sri Lank for 137 and won the match by 28 runs.
England skipper Eoin Morgan said that his team had to fight incredibly hard for the win as conditions changed continuously. He added that despite Tymal Mills leaving the field, Liam Livingstone and Moeen Ali stepped up for the team.
"I am incredibly proud of everything we have done tonight. The guys had to fight incredibly hard. Conditions here continued to change, Tymal going out asked another question of ourselves. But Livingstone and Moeen stepped up exceptionally well with the other guys," Eoin Morgan said at the post-match presentation.
Morgan lauded Jos Buttler for his ‘best-ever innings in an England shirt’ and said that it’s a privilege to have the wicket-keeper batter in their team.
"I can't fault our guys tonight. I thought Jos Buttler played one off his best-ever innings in an England shirt. It was incredible to be at the other end and watch. He is one of the best in the game and it's a privilege to have him in our team," he said.
Morgan said that they are delighted to have four wins and gave a special mention to Buttler for his accurate throws in the field.
"All-round fielding effort was good. We are delighted with the four wins. Combination of unbelievable skill level and the calm nature in which he goes about it - he combines them along with reading the game. To see him in this form in the group stages bodes well for the latter stages," he said.
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Eoin Morgan while talking about his returning to form said that he always believed in him and he along with Buttler enjoyed batting in tough conditions.
"You always got to believe, I always do (on getting back to form). Today was a tougher test. We were enjoying ourselves. Just to get a partnership going and put something on the board to defend," he concluded.
England will next take on South Africa in the T20 World Cup clash on 6th November at Sharjah while Sri Lanka will lock horns against West Indies on 4th November at Abu Dhabi.
(ANI inputs)
