Phil Salt smashed a belligerent unbeaten 87 as defending champions England began their T20 World Cup Super Eights campaign with a crushing eight-wicket victory over the West Indies in Saint Lucia. Coming off a sizzling display against Afghanistan, West Indies racked up a competitive 180 for four, but England waltzed to 181 for two in 17.3 overs in their Group 2 match. Salt led the attack with a hard-hitting innings that resulted in 47 balls with seven fours and five sixes. The opening received great help from Jonny Bairstow (48*).
But equal amount of credit must also be given to the English bowlers for producing as many as 51 dot balls, with Jofra Archer (1/34) and Adil Rashid (1/21) accounting for 22 of them in their organized spells.
Salt made the most of Nicholas Pooran’s reprieve at seven to lead the Windies bowlers in the company of Bairstow as the Englishmen together milked 97 runs from 44 balls for the third wicket while negotiating the hosts’ spin attack in the middle.
After a quiet start, England broke loose in the second over when captain Jos Buttler hit two boundaries off Romario Sheperd to make 12 runs. Salt then recovered, hitting a slower Andre Russell for a six.
The duo continued their attack and Salt finished the power play by smashing Alzarri Joseph for a four and a six to take England to 58 without loss in six overs, the best powerplay score by any team against the West Indians in this tournament.
Off-spinner Roston Chase finally made the leap when he noticed Buttler stepping forward and bowling a 108.9 kmph delivery to catch the England captain off guard.
The ball hit him hard and low on the front pad, getting him caught leg first, but it was a minor aberration as England marched determinedly to victory.
Earlier, Windies got off to a splendid start with Brandon King and Johnson Charles opening with authority. The duo had the Windies flying to 40 without loss in the fifth over before they were hit by a cruel blow.
Trying to knock Sam Curran to the ground, King (23; 13b) picked up what appeared to be a side strain and had to retire injured.
The in-form Pooran joined Charles at the crease, taking them to 54 in the power-play. Pooran edged Mark Wood for a six at leg to start the eighth, but England managed to tighten the screws after drinks.
That was the final limit before the mid-innings break.
Charles then ended a brief break by hitting Rashid for a six.
But in the next over, England attacked with Moeen Ali dismissing Charles (38; 34b), who drew it to Harry Brook at long-on.
Captain Rovman Powell faced Ali with a maximum and hit Liam Livingstone for three sixes in five balls in a 20-run stand.
But Livingstone had the last laugh, taking the crucial wicket of Powell (36 off 17) in his last delivery.
The English found some fight in the last five overs.
Archer hit the tip of Pooran’s bat as the heavy hitter retired for 36 off 32. Rutherford then dominated the strike in the final overs to lift the total, but that was not enough for them.
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