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 of their T20 World Cup Tremendous 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 sixteenth over because the defending champions reached their goal of 181 with 15 deliveries to spare in Gros Islet in an announcement victory.
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 within the fifteenth over.
The Yorkshireman additionally smoked two consecutive boundaries off paceman Alzarri Joseph firstly of the 14th, which had begun with England requiring 70 from 42 balls following a West Indies fightback within the center overs after England had reached 58-0 on the finish of the powerplay via Salt and Jos Buttler (25 off 22).
Buttler’s aspect sit prime of Tremendous 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 Eire).
Leg-spinner Adil Rashid (1-21) was earlier the choose of the England bowlers, conceding solely two runs and dismissing the possibly harmful Andre Russell (1) within the seventeenth over, with quick bowler Jofra Archer (1-34) transport solely 4 runs and eradicating Nicholas Pooran (36 off 32) within the sixteenth as West Indies have been restricted to 180-4.
Brandon King (23 off 13) dazzled briefly for the house aspect within the powerplay, together with smashing Reece Topley for a 101metre most over deep midwicket, however then retired harm with a aspect pressure that would rule him out of the remainder of the match.
West Indies – who will rue Pooran dropping Salt on seven off Hosein early within the chase – subsequent play in opposition to 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 firstly of the sixteenth over after which proceeded to pump 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 via the off-side, leaving his groups requiring simply 10 from 24 deliveries and the sport all however gained.
Salt had earlier dominated his opening stand 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 Wooden’s nineteenth over was taken for 19, largely resulting from Sherfane Rutherford (28no off 15).
However the hosts have been largely subdued with top-scorer Johnson Charles (38 off 34) plodding alongside and and England spinners Rashid and Moeen conserving the run-rate down.
Catch each match from the T20 World Cup, together with the ultimate in Barbados on Saturday June 29, stay on Sky Sports activities.
What’s subsequent?
England stick in Saint Lucia to play South Africa on Friday (3.30pm UK and Eire), whereas West Indies journey to Barbados to tackle USA on Saturday (1.30am UK and Eire).
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