Phil Salt’s Blistering 87* Leads England to Victory Over West Indies in T20 World Cup

ENG vs WI T20 World Cup 2024: Phil Salt’s unbeaten 87, supported by Jonny Bairstow’s 48*, helped England crush West Indies by eight wickets in St Lucia. This impressive performance sent a strong message to the other Super Eight teams in the T20 World Cup 2024.

The defending champions easily chased down their target of 181, with a solid 97-run partnership between Salt and Bairstow securing the win with 15 balls to spare.

ENG vs WI T20 World Cup 2024 at Daren Sammy National Stadium

On a good batting pitch at the Daren Sammy National Stadium, Jos Buttler chose to bowl first. West Indies seemed strong after seven overs, scoring 72 for the loss of only Brandon King, who left with a side strain early in the fifth over after scoring 23 off 12 balls.

A diet of spin restricted West Indies’ batters thanks to Adil Rashid, the pick of the bowlers with 1 for 21 from his four overs, and Moeen Ali, who removed Johnson Charles.

Rovman Powell promoted himself to No. 4 and cashed in when Buttler gambled with an over from Liam Livingstone in the 15th. Powell struck Livingstone for three sixes in four deliveries, taking 20 from the over. However, trying for a fourth six led to his dismissal, as he was caught low at short third by Mark Wood, who replaced Chris Jordan in the XI.

It was the first of three wickets to fall in 12 balls for just six runs. Jofra Archer then had Nicholas Pooran caught behind in the next over, and Andre Russell hit a Rashid googly straight to wide long-on.

West Indies managed to reach 180, thanks to Sherfane Rutherford, who found 28 from 15 deliveries, including 13 off Wood in an 18th over taken for 19.

England’s chase began steadily, reaching 58 for no loss after six overs. Roston Chase’s flat delivery ended the opening stand on 67, trapping Buttler in front, before Moeen came and went, batting at No. 3 for the first time since March 2023.

Salt remained steady, and though he slowed down, Bairstow picked up the slack, striking 46 off 21 up to the 16th over. Salt then launched a brutal attack on Romario Shepherd, striking the seamer for 30 runs with three fours and three sixes – the joint-most expensive over by a West Indian in a T20 World Cup.

Salt’s first boundary in that over brought up his half-century from 38 deliveries. West Indies were left to rue a missed chance to remove Salt on seven in the third over when he toed a hack across the line through to Pooran, who could not hold on.

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