Phil Salt smashed an unbeaten 103 off 54 balls as England chased down 183 in simply 16.5 overs to beat West Indies by eight wickets within the first T20 worldwide in Barbados.
The vacationers may have been annoyed in permitting the West Indies tail to wag, with the hosts rallying from 117-8 within the fifteenth over to 182-9 after Jos Buttler had gained the toss.
Romario Shepherd (35no off 22 balls) and Gudakesh Motie (33 off 14) placed on 49 for the ninth wicket, with West Indies including 65 off the ultimate 5.2 overs.
However Salt’s blistering batting show – the opener hitting 9 boundaries and 6 sixes in his third T20I ton – plus a maiden half century for Jacob Bethell (58no off 36) noticed England to an emphatic victory to open the five-match sequence.
One bitter word in England’s success was the dismissal of returning skipper Buttler for a first-ball duck, caught at deep third to an admittedly beautiful seize by Motie.
Saqib Mahmood starred early on, returning career-best figures for England of 4-34 as he ripped by the West Indies high order with three fast wickets.
Brandon King (3) – contemporary from his hundred within the remaining ODI of the West Indies’ 2-1 sequence win – was the primary to fall, earlier than Evin Lewis (13) and Shimron Hetmyer (0) departed to back-to-back deliveries to see Mahmood on a hat-trick in his second over.
West Indies rally after surprising begin however Salt powers England to victory
From 18-3, West Indies briefly countered both aspect of a rain delay that interrupted proceedings within the fifth over, Reece Topley going off injured shortly after the restart, having taken a tumble in his follow-through to the ultimate ball earlier than the climate break.
Nicholas Pooran (38 off 29) and Rovman Powell (18 off 10) cleared the ropes 5 instances between them, earlier than Jamie Overton ended the latter’s innings with a nice leaping seize at long-on off Adil Rashid (3-32).
Rashid additionally accounted for Sherfane Rutherford (2), with Buttler this time displaying lightning reactions at slip.
England captain Jos Buttler took a terrific catch at slip on his return to the aspect from damage
Andre Russell (30 off 17) struck some lusty blows, clearing the ropes on 4 events – one in every of which off Liam Livingstone was despatched into orbit and out of the stadium.
However Livingstone had the final snort quickly after with the veteran’s wicket, whereas Pooran departed 4 balls later and Rashid accounted for Akeal Hosein (2) cheaply to seemingly have West Indies reeling once more earlier than Shepherd and Motie’s late assault.
Adil Rashid took three wickets to have West Indies reeling at 118-7 earlier than a late rally from the tail
The runs scored by the tail did at the least nod to a belting batting monitor, and Salt made it look each inch that as he exploded out of the blocks, smashing 4 boundaries and a six off one Shamar Joseph over that value 24.
England thumped 73 off the opening six-over powerplay, albeit the wicket of Will Jacks (17 off 10) – bowled by Motie – ended it, plus Buttler’s golden duck 4 balls later briefly put the skids on the run chase.
However, being up to now forward of the speed allowed Bethell to mattress in as he and Salt comfortably noticed England residence to a gap win with out additional alarm, the pair placing on an unbroken stand of 107 from 61 balls.
Buttler: Salt can nonetheless go to new ranges
England captain Jos Buttler:
“It was a fantastic performance – I am delighted for the guys. It started with the ball and picking up those early wickets and then a really clinical partnership from Salt and Bethell.
“Salt has been excellent. He likes taking part in towards West Indies and within the final 12-18 months he has taken his recreation to new heights. There are much more ranges he can get to.”
Player of the Match, Phil Salt:
“That is in all probability the place I am happiest. I get pleasure from batting right here. I’ve grown up on these surfaces.
“Bethell is a huge talent. He’s a 21-year-old lad but if you didn’t know how old he was, you’d think he’d played 100 games already.
“It is a huge feather in our cap to have him in our group. Lengthy could it proceed.”
