Phil Salt's blistering knock of 87 not out from 47 balls, featuring three sixes and as many fours in a pivotal 30-run over, propelled England to a resounding eight-wicket victory against the West Indies in their T20 World Cup Super 8s opener in Saint Lucia. Jonny Bairstow contributed a rapid unbeaten 48 off 26 balls, helping England comfortably chase down the target with 15 balls to spare. They now prepare to face South Africa on Friday.
Salt's aggressive innings was highlighted by a remarkable assault on West Indies' seamer Romario Shepherd in the 16th over, where he hammered three sixes and three fours, propelling England towards their goal of 181. Bairstow, alongside Salt, built a crucial unbroken partnership of 97 runs from just 44 deliveries. This explosive duo ensured that England, chasing 181, reached their target with time to spare in Gros Islet. Bairstow's innings was equally impactful, as he smashed three consecutive boundaries off left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein in the 15th over and two more off pacer Alzarri Joseph at the start of the 14th, just as West Indies seemed to be mounting a comeback.
With this victory, England tops Super 8s Group 2 on net run-rate, setting the stage for their upcoming clash against South Africa in Saint Lucia on Friday. Adil Rashid was the standout performer with the ball for England, conceding just 21 runs in his four overs and claiming the key wicket of Andre Russell. Jofra Archer also played a crucial role, conceding only four runs in the 16th over and dismissing Nicholas Pooran, which helped limit West Indies to 180-4. Brandon King offered a brief spark for the hosts in the power play with 23 off 13 balls, including a massive 101-meter six off Reece Topley, before retiring hurt with a side strain.
West Indies will regret missed opportunities, especially when Nicholas Pooran dropped Salt early in his innings, which could have turned the game in their favour. They next face the USA in Bridgetown, Barbados, aiming to bounce back from this defeat.
Salt Dominates in Saint Lucia as England Sets the Tone
Salt achieved his half-century in style, hitting Shepherd for a boundary over covers at the start of the 16th over. He continued his onslaught with a six straight down the ground, followed by another boundary with an uppercut over the wicketkeeper. Salt’s aggressive batting was highlighted by further sixes over long-off and deep backward square, ending the over with a powerful drive through the off-side. This left England needing just 10 runs from 24 balls, effectively sealing the match. Earlier, Salt had dominated the opening stand with Jos Buttler, who scored 25 before being trapped LBW by Roston Chase. Moeen Ali's brief stint yielded 13 runs before he was caught off Russell’s bowling, as England added only 53 runs between overs seven to 13. Bairstow then reignited the innings, leading into Salt’s fireworks.
England’s Bowlers Shine
Liam Livingstone, despite being hit for three sixes by Rovman Powell in his only over, managed to take the wicket of the West Indies captain. Mark Wood's 18th over conceded 19 runs, largely due to Sherfane Rutherford's late assault. However, the West Indies' top scorer, Johnson Charles, struggled to accelerate, and the combined efforts of Rashid and Moeen kept their run rate in check.
Having narrowly advanced to the Super 8s over Scotland on net run-rate, England now looks like formidable contenders for the title once again.
Buttler Reflects on England's Calculated Approach
England captain Jos Buttler commended his team’s comprehensive performance, emphasising their well-executed plans with both bat and ball. He remarked that England had done exceptionally well to restrict the potent West Indies batting lineup. Despite chasing a challenging total, Buttler noted that their calculated batting approach was key to their success, particularly highlighting the crucial partnership between Bairstow and Salt. He suggested that the team’s strategic choices and timing of their shots were crucial in regaining momentum and securing the win.
Buttler also stressed the importance of learning from victories, indicating that analysing what was done well in this match would be vital as they move on to the next challenge.
Powell Focuses on Positives for West Indies
West Indies captain Rovman Powell acknowledged that his team fell short by 15-20 runs with the bat and could have performed better in the final overs. He credited England’s bowlers for their clear plans and effective execution. Powell noted that the West Indies deviated from their bowling strategies against Salt, who consistently scores well against them. He emphasised the need for his team to reassess their batting and bowling plans and take the positives from this game as they look forward to upcoming matches. Powell remained confident that their destiny was still within their control and that they needed to continue playing strong cricket.
Upcoming Matches
England will remain in Saint Lucia to face South Africa on Friday, while the West Indies will travel to Barbados for their match against the USA on Saturday. Catch all the action from the T20 World Cup live, culminating with the final in Barbados on Saturday, June 29.