Phil Salt (87no off 47) hits three sixes and as many fours in 30-run 16th over as England start T20 World Cup Super 8s marketing campaign with eight-wicket victory over West Indies; Jonny Bairstow contributes unbeaten 48 from 26; England subsequent play South Africa on Friday (3.30pm UK and Ireland)
Phil Salt hit six boundaries in an over as he and Jonny Bairstow powered England to an eight-wicket victory over host nation West Indies in their T20 World Cup Super 8s opener in Saint Lucia.
Salt (87 not out off 47 balls) thrashed three sixes and as many fours in West Indies seamer Romario Shepherd’s 30-run 16th over as the defending champions reached their goal of 181 with 15 deliveries to spare in Gros Islet for a press release win.
Bairstow struck 48 not out off 26 deliveries in an unbroken third-wicket stand of 97 from 44 balls with Salt, taking three boundaries in succession off left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein in the 15th over.
The Yorkshireman additionally smoked two consecutive boundaries off paceman Alzarri Joseph in the beginning of the 14th, which had begun with England requiring 70 from 42 balls following a West Indies fightback in the center overs after England had reached 58-0 on the finish of the powerplay by way of Salt and Jos Buttler (25 off 22).
Buttler’s facet sit prime of Super 8s Group 2, above South Africa on internet run-rate, forward of their conflict with the Proteas in Saint Lucia on Friday (3.30pm UK and Ireland).
Spinner Adil Rashid (1-21) was earlier the decide of the England bowlers, conceding solely two runs and dismissing the possibly harmful Andre Russell (1) in the 17th over, with quick bowler Jofra Archer (1-34) transport solely 4 runs and eradicating Nicholas Pooran (36 off 32) in the 16th – these overs essential in limiting West Indies to 180-4.
Brandon King (23 off 13) dazzled briefly for the hosts in the powerplay, together with smashing Reece Topley for a 101-metre most over deep midwicket, however then retired harm with a facet pressure that would rule him out of the remainder of the event.
West Indies – who will rue Pooran dropping Salt on seven off Hosein early in the chase – subsequent play towards USA in Bridgetown, Barbados from 1.30am on Saturday.
Salt stars in Saint Lucia as England lay down marker
Salt accomplished a 38-ball fifty when he smoked Shepherd for 4 over the covers in the beginning of the 16th over after which proceeded to pump a six down the bottom earlier than uppercutting a slower ball over wicketkeeper Pooran for 4.
The opener continued his assault with sixes over long-off and deep backward sq. and concluded a run-laden over by belting a full toss by way of the off-side, leaving his group requiring simply 10 from 24 deliveries and the sport all however received.
Salt had earlier dominated his opening stand of 67 from 46 deliveries with Buttler earlier than the latter was pinned lbw by off-spinner Roston Chase, whereas Moeen Ali (13 off 10) then holed out off Russell as England managed solely 53 runs throughout overs seven to 13.
Bairstow reignited the innings, although, earlier than Salt’s pyrotechnics.
With the ball, spinner Liam Livingstone (1-20) took some faucet in his sole over, nailed for 3 sixes in 4 deliveries by West Indies skipper Rovman Powell (36 off 17) earlier than he dismissed the identical participant, whereas paceman Mark Wood’s 18th over was taken for 19, largely on account of Sherfane Rutherford (28no off 15).
But the hosts have been largely subdued with top-scorer Johnson Charles (38 off 34) plodding alongside and England spinners Rashid and Moeen (1-15) conserving the run fee down.
After solely squeezing into the Super 8s forward of Scotland on internet run-rate, England now appear to be real title contenders as soon as once more.
Buttler: England have been calculated with the bat
England skipper Jos Buttler:
“I assumed it was a extremely good efficiency. We deliberate very well and I assumed we executed with bat and ball and deserved the win.
“We did very well to limit such a robust batting line-up. It was nonetheless an honest rating we have been chasing, you needed to play nicely to chase it down, however we have been very good with the bat.
“Guys have been calculated after they took their choices and I assumed the Bairstow-Salt partnership was so good. Bairstow got here with nice intent and took the momentum again, whereas Salty broke the again of the chase with that one large over.
“A lot of people say you learn when you lose but I believe you learn when you win as well. We need to reflect on what we did well and then put that to bed and move onto the next game.”
Powell: West Indies should take the positives
West Indies captain Rovman Powell:
“I feel we left 15, 20 runs on the market with the bat. We are normally excellent in the final 5 overs however credit score to the England bowling unit. You can see that they had clear plans and executed.
“We may even have given a greater show as a bowling group. Phil [Salt] all the time appears to attain runs towards West Indies and harm us however I felt we strayed a bit of from our plans.
“It is for us to re-evaluate as a batting and bowling group and take the positives from this sport. Destiny continues to be in our personal fingers so we’ve to play good cricket.”
Catch each match from the T20 World Cup, together with the ultimate in Barbados on Saturday June 29, dwell on Sky Sports.
What’s subsequent?
England keep in Saint Lucia to play South Africa on Friday (3.30pm UK and Ireland), whereas West Indies journey to Barbados to tackle USA on Saturday (1.30am UK and Ireland).