T20 World Cup: Phil Salt’s assault helps England post dominant win over West Indies by 8 wickets

Defending champions England decimated the West Indian bowlers to win their opening match of T20 World Cup by 8 wickets. Jos Buttler and his men won with 15 balls to spare in front of a shocked home crowd at the Darren Sammy stadium in St Lucia. 

Earlier, put into bat first, the West Indians could score only 180/4 from their 20 overs. The English bowlers bowled with discipline as they restricted the free-scoring West Indian side from reaching a huge score on the board. 

Nicholas Pooran and Johnson Charles scored 38 runs each while Rovman Powell scored 36. Brandon King who had hit one of the biggest sixes of the campaign had to leave the field after injuring himself while batting to deal a severe blow to the hosts. 

Phil Salt’s unbeaten 87 leaves West Indies reeling 

Chasing 181 to win, the English batters didn’t look troubled. Phil Salt and skipper Jos Buttler combined well to add 67 for the 1st wicket under 8 overs to give the England side a good start. 

Roston Chase got the first wicket of the day when he had Buttler out LBW for 25 off 22 balls. Moeen Ali batting at number 3 scored 13 runs from 10 balls before he too perished to Andre Russell. At that stage, England were 84/2 still needing 97 runs to win from 59 balls. 

It was at this stage that Phil Salt was joined by Jonny Bairstow and pair went onto add 97 unbeaten runs for the 3rd wicket. West Indians were poor in the field as they dropped host of chances. 

Phil Salt ended the day on 87 not out from 47 balls with 7 fours and 5 sixes. Bairstow was not out on 48 from just 26 balls with the help of 5 fours and 2 sixes. South Africa and England have now won their opening games of the Super-8 stages in Group 2. 



The next match for England is against South Africa to be played at the same Venue on 21st June. West Indies will travel to Barbados to take on the United States of America in their 2nd game of the Super-8 stages.