England captain Jos Buttler showcased his astounding batting prowess as he obliterated the USA’s bowling attack in a thrilling encounter during the T20 World Cup 2024. Buttler’s extraordinary performance saw him smashing five sixes in a single over, dismantling left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh for a whopping 32 runs. This incredible feat placed Buttler in an elite class of cricketers, though he narrowly missed matching Indian cricket legend Yuvraj Singh’s historic record of six sixes in an over.
Buttler’s blistering display began in the ninth over of the innings, the second over bowled by Harmeet Singh. Just one ball prior, Phil Salt handed the strike to Buttler, setting the stage for an unforgettable onslaught. With the first delivery he faced, Buttler confidently charged down the pitch and hoisted the ball over long-off. He didn’t stop there. The next delivery, a slower one, was sent sailing into the deep mid-wicket stands.
Continuing his merciless attack, Buttler completed a trio of consecutive sixes with a powerful, golf-like swing that carried the ball straight down the ground. He then added a fourth six, targeting a delivery on his leg stump and dispatching it over square leg. The English skipper capped off the over with an emphatic final six, smashing the ball towards long-on and, unfortunately for some, shattering a solar panel glass in the process.
Buttler’s assault on Harmeet Singh has made him only the second cricketer in history to hit more than four sixes in an over in a T20 World Cup match. It’s a feat that places him just shy of Yuvraj Singh’s unmatched achievement of six sixes in an over against England in the 2007 T20 World Cup.
In a comprehensive performance, Buttler finished his innings with a remarkable 83 runs off just 38 balls, guiding England to victory within 9.4 overs and with all 10 wickets intact. This triumphant chase, completed with 62 balls remaining, now holds the record for the most balls left in a 10-wicket win in a T20 World Cup match.
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Following the match, Buttler shared his thoughts on the dominant victory and his record-threatening over. He acknowledged the respect his team had for the USA but highlighted the importance of their own intensity. “We give USA a lot of respect and we talked about if we brought our intensity, we would be too good. Once we got in a few overs, we tried to target this side with the wind,” Buttler explained.
He also praised the performances of his teammates, particularly the bowlers Adil Rashid and Liam Livingstone (nicknamed Livi). “Adil was fantastic and Livi bowled brilliantly in tandem. It’s difficult when you are not bowling in one game and then suddenly you bowl four overs. Credit to him for being ready,” Buttler noted. England’s strategic decisions were also on point, with Buttler highlighting the inclusion of Chris Jordan (CJ) to add depth to their batting lineup. “Today we wanted to bring in CJ to bring depth to our batting, and a World Cup hat-trick is a great effort,” Buttler added, referring to Jordan’s hat-trick in the game.
Reflecting on his own form, Buttler expressed satisfaction with his batting. “I have been feeling good all year, to be honest. I feel I’m hitting the ball well, and it’s on me to look after my own game. As much as I’m the captain, I’m one of the 11, and I have got to do my job,” he said.
Buttler’s explosive batting and composed leadership have not only steered England to a memorable victory but also set the tone for their campaign in the T20 World Cup 2024. As the tournament progresses, fans and analysts alike will be keenly watching to see if he can continue this extraordinary run of form and lead England to further glory.
