Jos Buttler serves up fireworks as England see off West Indies in first T20
The burden has gone for Jos Buttler,Playing his first Twenty20 international since stepping down from the white-ball captaincy he struck a 59-ball 96 to set up England’s 21-run win against West Indies,If there was any glumness for the 34-year-old, it was in missing out on what would have been his first T20 international century at home,Nonetheless, Buttler top scored in a total of 188 before Liam Dawson got to work,The left-arm spinner has been the darling of the county game in recent seasons but this was his return to the England show after nearly three years away.
His story has long been that of the drinks carrier, an unused member of the 2019 World Cup winning squad, there to play in case of emergency.Here he was part of the main cast, opening the bowling in West Indies’ reply, and celebrated his best international figures, four wickets for 20 runs, his control crucial.A new life begins for Dawson at this level, perhaps leading to a partnership with Adil Rashid at next year’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.England entered this contest with just two seamers, a nod to that upcoming assignment.“We don’t want to look too far ahead but I think we’ve got to trial some things like this,” said Harry Brook, England’s captain.
“Not completely set on this structure of the team but it’s worth a go and thankfully it worked today.”Traffic had disrupted West Indies before the third one-day international at the Oval; this time it was British immigration policy.The recent introduction of a visa requirement for visitors from Trinidad and Tobago led to the absence of Akeal Hosein, the left-arm spinner still waiting to complete the process.Cricket West Indies “remains optimistic” that the matter will be sorted in the coming days, but this quickfire three-match series concludes on Tuesday.Hosein, noted for his guile with the new ball, was missed as England unleashed early havoc on the opposition quicks, Jamie Smith and Buttler brutal in their 79-run second-wicket stand.
The former, taking advantage of regular T20 opener Phil Salt’s paternity leave, feasted over long-on to compile a 20-ball 38.Buttler was a treat when going straight down the ground but also showcased the scoop when taking 22 off four Alzarri Joseph deliveries.Gudakesh Motie’s slow stuff inevitably brought quiet, his four overs wicketless but conceding just 21, while Roston Chase snuck one through Brook’s defences.West Indies’ seamers recovered well as England fell to 116 for four and the surviving Buttler slowed down; after reaching 50 off 25 balls, his next 19 deliveries produced 16.But three figures remained on as he fetched a wide Jason Holder delivery and found the square leg rope.
Then he reverse-swatted a fuller Romario Shepherd ball to go to 86.In the next over, an edge past the keeper yielded another four.One more along the carpet would have done it but Joseph found his pads.Sign up to The SpinSubscribe to our cricket newsletter for our writers' thoughts on the biggest stories and a review of the week’s actionafter newsletter promotionDawson was called upon immediately in the West Indies reply, and success came quickly, an economical opening over followed by a wicket when he switched ends, a flighted delivery luring Johnson Charles forward and inviting the stumping from Buttler.Matt Potts, making his T20 international debut in the same week he was dropped from the Test squad for the India series, endured a mixed opening over, dismissing Shai Hope cheaply but taking nine deliveries to complete it, a no-ball – hit for six by Chase – called because of three fielders behind square on the leg side.
A powerplay total of 44 for two gave England the advantage though the game threatened to turn as Evin Lewis took a liking to Potts and then Jacob Bethell in his first over,The latter struggled with his line and conceded 24 runs before Lewis got a little too excited with the final ball, finding Brydon Carse’s hands by the longer leg-side boundary,Dawson then capitalised on the required rate, Sherfane Rutherford and Chase offering Duckett grabs in the deep, Rovman Powell a victim of the clever dart,Rashid’s commanding 16th over meant the contest was effectively over before the death,
John Lewis slashes points its credit card holders earn on purchases elsewhere
John Lewis promises its shoppers are “never knowingly undersold” but those with its Partnership credit card may feel short-changed after it slashes perks for general spending.Points earned on purchases convert into gift vouchers to spend in John Lewis and its sister chain Waitrose, with each point equating to 1p.From the beginning of August customers will earn fewer points on purchases made with other retailers. Instead of a point for every £4 spent, it will be for every £10.These less generous terms will mean a longer wait or much greater spending for the vouchers to arrive in the post
EU agrees to increase flight delay times before passengers get compensation
EU countries have agreed to increase the amount of time aircraft passengers are delayed before they can qualify for compensation.Passengers on short-haul flights would have to be delayed by four hours or more before they could claim compensation, under the plans. For long-haul flights delays would have to be six or more hours. Current EU rules dictate that passengers can ask for compensation if their flight is delayed for more than three hours.The EU countries also agreed to increase the amount of compensation for those delayed on short-haul flights from €250 (£211) to €300, but plan to reduce compensation for long-haul flights from €600 to €500
Shopper put on facial ID watchlist after dispute over 39p of paracetamol at Home Bargains
A London woman has made a data complaint after discovering she had been put on a facial recognition camera watchlist at a Home Bargains store after a dispute over 39p worth of paracetamol.She learned of her entry on a database of banned customers when a member of staff at the store in Grove Farm retail park in Chadwell Heath asked her to leave and directed her attention to a Facewatch sign.Facewatch is a facial recognition system used by retailers to identify and deter shoplifters by analysing CCTV footage and comparing faces against a private database of known offenders. It triggers an alert to staff when a match is made by the software.Stores including Asda, Budgens, Sports Direct and Costcutter have used the technology, despite privacy campaigners arguing that the surveillance infringes the rights of shoppers
Tesla share plunge amid Trump feud wipes $152bn off Elon Musk’s company
Tesla’s shares dropped by about 14.2% on Thursday at market close, wiping roughly $152bn off the value of the company as a feud between Elon Musk and Donald Trump erupted into public view. The former political allies traded threats and insults through posts on their respective social media platforms throughout the afternoon as the company’s price fell.Trump suggested on Truth Social that he could cut Musk’s government subsidies and contracts, of which both Tesla and SpaceX have been immense beneficiaries. Musk meanwhile threatened to decommission the SpaceX spacecraft that Nasa relies on for transport missions, called for Trump’s impeachment, derided the president’s signature tariffs and accused him of being affiliated with the notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein
Aryna Sabalenka v Coco Gauff: French Open women’s singles final goes to deciding set – live
Gauff 6-7 6-2 5-4 Sabalenka*This is sudden death for Sabalenka. She’s one of the game’s gamblers. And so will go for power. At 30-15 she lacerates the ball home. That’s been lacking for too long
Lambourn wins the 2025 Derby in dominant fashion: horse racing – live
5pm LESTER PIGGOTT HANDICAP bettingAnd they’re off … Hornsea Bay has the early lead as the rain continues to fall … Meblesh is second as they begin the descent towards Tattenham Corner …5pm LESTER PIGGOTT HANDICAP bettingHornsea Bay 7/2The Trickster 4/1War Hawk 9/2Meblesh 6/1Chartwell Jock 13/2Cayman Dancer 14/1Love Talk 28/1Patrol 50/1Full betting via Oddschecker5pm LESTER PIGGOTT HANDICAP previewThree-year-olds only in this 10-furlong handicap, and the lightly-raced Meblesh is fancied to continue his improvement after getting off the mark at the third attempt in a Newbury maiden last month. War Hawk, from the Simon & Ed Crisford stable, is an obvious danger after a victory at Chester last weekend.SELECTION: MEBLESH1 Small Fry (Ashley Lewis) 9-4 Fav 2 Dream Harder (L Morris) 22-1 3 Maxi King (D Egan) 14-1 14 ran Non Runners: 8,16,174.15pm NORTHERN DANCER HANDICAPAnd they’re off … on the turn for home it’s Valvano in the lead with Something in second … Small Fry now comes down the outside in the straight with a withering run and kicks clear for a comfortable success.Small Fry (9-4f) sizzles in the deteriorating conditions @EpsomRacecourse to win the Northern Dancer Handicap for @gl_racing and Ashley Lewis 🌟 pic
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England ease to 21-run win over West Indies in first men’s T20 cricket international – as it happened