Jos Buttler highlights running Dasun Shanaka out as ‘favourite’ part of England’s T20 win over Sri Lanka

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Will Mapcherson1 November 2021

Jos Buttler revealed that his clutch run out of Dasun Shanaka in a tight chase gave him even more pleasure than the stunning century that set up England’s win over Sri Lanka.

Chasing 164, Sri Lanka needed 41 runs from four overs before a brilliant relay catch from Jason Roy and Sam Billings dismissed Wanindu Hasaranga, then Buttler’s direct hit ran out Shanaka.

Buttler described the intervention, his second run out of the innings, as “my favourite bit of my day.”

“We were under pressure for a long part of the chase, knowing Mo had to bowl an over, so to take that wicket there, I was delighted with that,” he said.

“You could probably see that from my celebrations. I think we showed great character in the field, the conditions were tough, and losing a bowler, guys stepping up. There were some great pieces of fielding, Jason Roy’s catch on the boundary to dismiss Hasaranga.

“The level that we have set in the field has been great in this tournament so far, I think we’ve saved a number of runs, we’ve created chances, and I think that shows the selfless attitude of the group. The fielding is one thing you do for the team, even more than the other disciplines in the game.”

Buttler’s innings was spectacular. He and captain Eoin Morgan led a slow rebuild after England fell to 36 for three in the powerplay, before exploding in the second half of the innings, and hitting his sixth six off the final ball of the innings to complete his century.

“I stayed patient, keeping my head,” he said. “I found it really tough early on and managed to get a really good partnership with Morgs, and we tried to attack the back end. We were trying to get something going, finding the spinners really tricky.

“For a time we thought 120 might even be a good score, so that’s what we were working towards. Then we started to get going a bit, working nicely in partnership, trying to each take the small side, and I really enjoy batting with Morgs.”

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