DURHAM, England (CMC) — Jos Buttler’s sparkling half-century coupled with Liam Dawson’s destructive spell of spin bowling carried England to a dominant 21-run victory over West Indies in the first Twenty20 International (T20I) here on Friday.

Buttler fell agonisingly short of his second T20I century, with his 96 off just 59 balls laying the foundation for England’s competitive total of 188 for six of 20 overs.

Player of the Match Dawson then tore through the West Indies’ middle order, grabbing four wickets with his left-arm spin to help restrict them to 167 for nine at the end of their 20 overs.

It was another forgettable batting display from the visitors, with opener Evin Lewis’s knock of 39 from 23 balls being the lone bright spark.

Having done well to limit England in the latter part of their innings, West Indies got off to a flying start in their chase, with Lewis and Johnson Charles putting on 27 runs in three overs.

Dawson got the breakthrough when he lured Charles out of his crease to be stumped for 18 before medium pacer Matthew Potts accounted for the crucial wicket of Captain Shai Hope to leave West Indies 33 for two in the sixth over.

Lewis and Roston Chase then added 58 runs in just over four overs to help revive the visitors’ innings.

But after blasting left-arm spinner Jacob Bethell’s first five balls for 24 runs, Lewis unwisely tried to hit the final ball of the over out of the ground but only managed to pick out Brydon Carse at midwicket who took a good catch diving forward to make it 91 for three at the halfway stage.

Dawson then swung the match completely in England’s favour by snaring the wickets of Sherfane Rutherford for three, Chase for 24, and Rovman Powell for 13, to reduce the visitors to 115 for six in the 14th over.

With boundaries needed, Romario Shepherd and Jason Holder surprisingly chose to work the ball around for singles, leaving themselves with the almost impossible task of scoring 37 runs from the final over.

Dawson finished with 4-20 from his four overs, while Bethell (2-27) and Matthew Potts (2-48) provided good support.

Earlier, Buttler played a gem of an innings during his hour-and-20-minute stay at the crease.

Shepherd struck an early blow when he had Ben Duckett caught behind for just one, but opener Jamie Smith and Buttler blasted the West Indies’ bowlers to all parts of the ground during a 79-run partnership for the second wicket in just over six overs.

Buttler was especially severe on fast bowler Alzarri Joseph, who he hit for three sixes and a four in the sixth over that leaked 23 runs.

He brought up his 50 off 25 balls with a single off Shepherd, but with his very next delivery Shepherd claimed Smith’s wicket for 38.

Buttler seemed on track for a century, but Joseph got his revenge by trapping him lbw four runs short to spark a West Indies fightback that limited England under 200.

Shepherd was the pick of the bowlers with 2-33.