England kick-start their T20 World Cup as they hammer West Indies – with Jonny Bairstow and Phil Salt powering visitors to 181-run target

England took a giant step towards the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup last night as they defeated hosts West Indies by eight wickets, silencing a passionate crowd of around 10,000 at the Daren Sammy Stadium in St Lucia.

With a challenging 181, they were rushed home with 15 balls to spare by a punishing partnership of 97 in 7.2 overs between Phil Salt and Jonny Bairstow, giving their Super Eight net run-rate a big chance.

Victory over South Africa here on Friday will almost push them through to the last four even before they meet the US in Barbados on Sunday.

As an impressive chase went through the gears, Salt hammered 30 from an over from Romario Shepherd – who had just returned from paternity leave – to finish with 87 off 47. He now has 353 runs in his last four T20 innings against these opponents at a strike rate of 194, and looks as destructive as anyone in the league.

“Credit to Salt,” said Captain Rovman Powell of the West Indies. “He always hurts us.”

Salt led the way, finishing with a sensational 87 not out off 47 deliveries for England

Bairstow assisted him gamely and scored an unbeaten 48 in the T20 World Cup

Bairstow, meanwhile, added an unbeaten 48 from 26 to the 31 from 18 he had achieved to help set up victory against Namibia in Antigua, before taking one of his periodic potshots at the press. England will hope he perseveres all the way to the final.

The game was billed as a battle of the big hitters on the cleanest surface in the Caribbean.

In the end, the West Indies defeated England by ten sixes to seven, but it was England who played the smarter cricket – strangling their opponents at crucial stages of their innings, with Adil Rashid to the fore, and then expertly neutralizing the threat from the left. arm spinner Akeal Hosein.

These teams are all vying to become the first to win this trophy three times, but on this evidence it seems more likely that England will make history. Australia may now be wishing they hadn’t organized their chase against Scotland here so skillfully last Saturday.

If any proof was needed that T20 can be a fickle format, England’s fortunes at this World Cup have provided it. Head coach Matthew Mott, who was 45 minutes away from the Antiguan rain last week that may have condemned him to the sack, will be feeling a lot happier about life.

The chase got off to an ideal start with an opening stand of 67 within eight overs between Salt and Buttler. It ended when Buttler, on 25, advanced on Roston Chase’s off-spin, and had his bat caught behind his pad as he aimed for his leg. He reviewed the lbw decision to no avail.

Promoted to No. 3, perhaps in an attempt to tackle Hosein and fellow slow left-armer Gudakesh Motie, Moeen Ali made a quick 13 before pulling Andre Rusell to deep midwicket, leaving England 84 for two in the 11th. Crucially, they had raised the price.

It also helped that Bairstow was in one of his moods, almost overtaking Salt, who had a 43-run lead, and contributing 42 to a quick half-century stand. Hosein and Motie went wicketless, conceding 67 in the process, while loquacious wicketkeeper Nicholas Pooran missed two chances – including, crucially, Salt on seven off Hosein.

Salt later powered their way through some quiet overs as Bairstow came under pressure, then set up Shepherd in a remarkable over that went 464664. By now Pooran had become as quiet as a crowd expecting much more from one of the three undefeated teams in the competition. the group stage.

Jofra Archer was among the wickets for England as they restricted West Indies to 180-4

Johnson Charles was the top scorer for the hosts, but his 38 was at a steady pace

“That was a lot of fun,” Salt said. “It was a great feeling to come here against a very strong side riding that wave of momentum in their own circumstances, to play an innings like that alongside Jonny and come away with a win. They had such good spinners, it feels like the first whiff I got [against seam]I had to take the opportunity.’

The West Indian innings had been a curious affair, with five players reaching 23, but none making more than local boy Johnson Charles’ 38. But even that took 34 balls, while Pooran, so destructive in making 98 off 53 on the same pitch on two nights. earlier against Afghanistan, had to settle for 36 out of 32.

The surface appeared to have delayed a touch, although that didn’t stop Powell – having promoted himself to No. 4 – from hitting five sixes in 17 balls, including three in an over from Liam Livingstone, which ended when Powell was caught at short third place went to Mark Wood. man.

And there was a late flurry from Sherfane Rutherford, who masterminded the West Indies’ crucial win against New Zealand, now knocking back Jofra Archer for six runs in the final over of the innings. Still, West Indies’ total around 20 felt light.

Archer had a mixed night, conceding 21 in his first two overs but producing a world-class 16th in which Pooran failed to score on four of the first five deliveries before pushing the last through to Buttler and trudging away furiously with himself.

But the choice of the England attack was Rashid, still ranked No. 1 by the ICC in T20 cricket. His eighth ball was ground for six by Charles, but otherwise he only conceded more than a single once, and robbed the West Indies of late acceleration when he had the dangerous Russell caught at long-on for a single.

Rashid’s fellow spinner Moeen also played his part and took the first wicket of the evening when Charles mistimed him against Harry Brook at one point.

After the match, Salt said England’s win over the West Indies ‘was great fun’

The rest of the attack didn’t quite materialize, although Sam Curran threw an important 19th at a cost of just six. Reece Topley speared two of the first four balls of the game down the leg side to set a trend, with England eventually conceding a wasteful 10 in wides.

And on the pitch where he took his first Test five-for in February 2019, Wood – who had replaced Chris Jordan from the team that defeated Namibia – sent three overs for 36.

Earlier, West Indian opener Brandon King retired hurt for a promising 23 off 13 balls after pulling up after hitting Curran at mid-off. Given his scoring rate, his exit felt as good as a wicket, costing some vital momentum.

For England, it could easily be the night their tournament got underway.