England, the defending T20 World Cup champions, started their Super 8 journey with a resounding eight-victory over West Indies, reinforcing their status as the team to beat. After a challenging qualification phase, this Phil Salt-led run chase was a reminder of the attacking intent that took them to glory in Australia two years ago. Jonny Bairstow played his part as well, as West Indies’ total of 180 was overwhelmed with a whopping 15 balls to spare.
Salt and Jos Buttler wreaked havoc from the get go. Akeal Hosein’s left-arm spin had been key to West Indies’ strong Powerplays, but the blazing opening partnership, which saw 58 scored in the first six overs, gave England a solid foundation to build on. Although Buttler was some way off his best, his presence helped Salt play with the freedom that he had during a bilateral series in the Caribbean last year.
Buttler eventually fell to Roston Chase, hit on the pad on the full as he missed a flick. But Salt and Jonny Bairstow, who targetted Alzarri Joseph in particular, stitched together another successful partnership of 97 off just 44 balls. Salt’s 30 runs off Romario Shepherd’s second over, the 16th of the innings, finished off any lingering hopes West Indies had, on the back of Bairstow tonking Hosein for two fours and a six in his final over.
Salt’s unbeaten 87 off 47 balls contained five sixes and seven fours, while Bairstow matched him almost stroke for stroke during his unbeaten 48 off 26 balls.
Earlier, England had won the toss and put West Indies in to bat. The opening pair of Brandon King and Johnson Charles did their job well, sharing a partnership of 40 before King had to retire hurt. Nicholas Pooran then arrived at the crease, and alongside Charles built a 54-run partnership from 41 balls. The likes of Reece Topley, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer and Sam Curran couldn’t give England the breakthrough they needed, but neither batter could really cut loose either.
In the middle overs, Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid dried up the runs, and eventually, Moeen got England the breakthrough as Charles mishit a wide delivery to Harry Brook at long-on. Rovman Powell’s power-packed 36 included three massive sixes off Liam Livingstone, but the bowler would have the last word as West Indies’ captain miscued another big heave to short third man.
Pooran fell in a magnificent Archer over that went for just four runs, and when Andre Russell holed out to deep midwicket five balls later, West Indies lost momentum. Sherfane Rutherford slugged a quickfire 28 off 15 balls to push West Indies to a decent total of 180, but against the batting depth at England’s disposal, that was nowhere near enough.
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