Jos Buttler smashed 96 off 59 balls and Liam Dawson celebrated his England return with four wickets as the hosts beat the West Indies by 21 runs in the first T20I on Friday. 

The series-opening victory means it is now four wins in four under new white-ball skipper Harry Brook, who managed just six runs before being bowled out by Roston Chase (1-19). 

Jamie Smith, opening for the first time in T20Is, got England off to a flying start by plundering 38 runs from 20 deliveries before Buttler took control after Ben Duckett (one) was dismissed. 

Having notched a half-century from 25 balls, Buttler added 46 from his next 34 as partners came and went, but did enough to steer England to an above-par total of 188-6. 

Smith and Jacob Bethell (23) were the only other batters to make double-figures on a lop-sided scorecard, but West Indies paid for a profligate start with the ball that allowed England to race away to 78-1 at the end of the powerplay.

Chasing 189 to win, Evin Lewis (39) and Roston Chase (24) had England rattled during a 58-run partnership for the third wicket that saw Bethell concede 24 runs in one over. 

Dawson (4-20) - having grabbed the wicket of Johnson Charles (18) - returned soon after and struck immediately, with Sherfane Rutherford (two) holing out to deep midwicket.

Chase then fell to Dawson two balls later before he grabbed his fourth wicket, bowling Rovman Powell (13), reducing the West Indies to 115-6 in the 14th over. 

Despite knocks from Romario Shepherd (16) and Jason Holder (16 not out), the tourists stumbled their way to just 167-9 in their 20 overs to confirm a heavy defeat. 

The PERFECT start to the series

Victory in Durham
Game two in Bristol 

Match Centre: https://t.co/LDkylcYeB5 pic.twitter.com/Mc56WuXDBJ

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 6, 2025

Data Debrief: Starting off strong

England are aiming for back-to-back series wins against the West Indies for the first time in the history of the T20I format, and got off to a fine start in Durham. 

Their victory was led by Buttler, who came within four runs of notching his second T20I century for England. The former captain struck six fours and four maximums during his 85-minute spell at the crease at a strike rate of 162.71. 

But Dawson, playing in his first international since November 2022, also played his part. He is now the seventh England bowler to register four wickets against the West Indies in T20Is, and the second spinner to do so after Adil Rashid.