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 for an announcement win.

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 at first 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 by means of Salt and Jos Buttler (25 off 22).

Buttler’s facet sit prime of Tremendous 8s Group 2, above South Africa on web run-rate, forward of their conflict with the Proteas in Saint Lucia on Friday (3.30pm UK and Eire).

Spinner Adil Rashid (1-21) was earlier the decide 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) delivery solely 4 runs and eradicating Nicholas Pooran (36 off 32) within the sixteenth – these overs essential in limiting West Indies to 180-4.

Brandon King (23 off 13) dazzled briefly for the hosts within the powerplay, together with smashing Reece Topley for a 101-metre most over deep midwicket, however then retired damage with a facet pressure that might rule him out of the remainder of the event.

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 at first of the sixteenth over after which proceeded to pump a 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 by means of the off-side, leaving his workforce requiring simply 10 from 24 deliveries and the sport all however gained.

Salt had earlier dominated his opening stand of 67 from 46 balls 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 18th over was taken for 19, largely on account of Sherfane Rutherford (28no off 15).

However the hosts have been largely subdued with top-scorer Johnson Charles (38 off 34) plodding alongside and England spinners Rashid and Moeen (1-15) retaining the run charge down.

After solely squeezing into the Tremendous 8s forward of Scotland on web run-rate, England now appear to be real title contenders as soon as once more.

Buttler: England have been calculated with the bat

England skipper Jos Buttler:

“I assumed it was a extremely good efficiency. We deliberate rather well and I assumed we executed with bat and ball and deserved the win.

“We did rather well to limit such a strong batting line-up. It was nonetheless an honest rating we have been chasing, you needed to play nicely to chase it down, however we have been very sensible with the bat.

“Guys have been calculated once they took their choices and I assumed the Bairstow-Salt partnership was so good. Bairstow got here with nice intent and took the momentum again, whereas Salty broke the again of the chase with that one huge over.

“Lots of people say you be taught while you lose however I consider you be taught while you win as nicely. We have to replicate on what we did nicely after which put that to mattress and transfer onto the following recreation.”

Powell: West Indies should take the positives

West Indies captain Rovman Powell:

“I feel we left 15, 20 runs on the market with the bat. We’re often superb within the final 5 overs however credit score to the England bowling unit. You may see that they had clear plans and executed.

“We might even have given a greater show as a bowling group. Phil [Salt] all the time appears to attain runs in opposition to West Indies and damage us however I felt we strayed slightly from our plans.

“It’s for us to re-evaluate as a batting and bowling group and take the positives from this recreation. Future continues to be in our personal palms so we now have to play good cricket.”

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 keep 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).