After his team’s four-wicket win over Sri Lanka, England skipper Jos Buttler on Saturday (November 5) heaped praise on Ben Stokes, saying that the all-rounder can play a lot of roles in the side thanks to his exceptional talent.
Stokes played a vital role in England’s must-win game against Sri Lanka, which propelled them to the T20 World Cup 2022 semifinals.
The ace all-rounder returned with the figures of 1/24 in his four overs and then played an unbeaten knock of 42 in 36 balls to take his team over the finishing line after a middle-order collapse while chasing the target of 142.
“These kind of situations is what he’s made for and I’m delighted for him. While he’s at the crease, that gives you a sense of calm,” Buttler said at the post-match presentation.
“He can play a lot of roles. He effects the game in all three facets. He’s a proper competitor. Getting to this stage of competition is where you just see him grow and grow.”
Sri Lanka were off to a flying start on the back of Pathum Nissanka’s sparkling half-century, but England bowlers bounced back to restrict the opposition below 150.
“They got off to a really good start, and we felt the wicket would play that way since it was a used wicket. But the way Adil Rashid got us back was wonderful. “Lot of people look at the end product with him, he doesn’t have the wickets but he has been bowling well.”
Sam Curran has done a wonderful job at the death for England throughout the T20 World Cup and the skipper reserved special praise for him and opener Alex Hales, who scored 47 off 30 balls in the chase versus Sri Lanka.
“Sam keeps growing and growing, he’s a key member of this team and he likes to be in these tough moments. I think Alex (Hales) in that one over really took the game out of Sri Lanka.”
With the victory over Sri Lanka, England knocked Australia out of the T20 World Cup and became the second team from Group 1 after New Zealand to qualify for the semifinals.
“Excited to go there, we just needed to find a way to win today. Now it is time to go there and think about the semi-finals,” Buttler stated.
(With PTI inputs)
