WATCH, WI vs ENG | Tripping Motie defies gravity to spoil Buttler’s return with one-handed screamer

ByArijit Kundu, SportsCafe Editor

Last Sunday at 6:05 PM

Comebacks should be better than the setback and Jos Buttler perhaps aimed to do so on Saturday after missing a majority of the summer. However, the outing wasn’t rosy for him as Gudakesh Motie’s outstanding grab removed him for a golden duck in the first T20I between England and West Indies.

Fortune favoured the returning English captain Buttler during the toss as he elected to field first at the Kensington Oval. Saqib Mahmood chose not to disappoint his skipper on his awaited return as he ran through the West Indies top order in his opening scalp, removing Brandon King, Evin Lewis, and Shimron Hetmyer by the fourth over. Despite the early jitters, thirties from Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Romario Shepherd, and Motie propelled the hosts to a respectable 182/9 in 20 overs. In reply, England’s aggressive start was thwarted by a couple of wickets around the powerplay with Motie’s one-handed catch to dismiss Buttler being the talk of the town.

Following a 73-run blistering powerplay, Romario Shepherd dished a back of a length delivery outside the stumps against Buttler that the latter intended to upper cut by making room. However, the connection was accurate, and as a result, the ball marooned towards the third man region. Motie, standing almost three feet from the ropes, judged the ball in the air and tried to pluck it with one hand by adjusting the needs accordingly. He almost tripped while doing the act but held onto the white cherry firmly to leave Buttler dejected with a golden duck on return.

Motie Oh Motie