Phil Salt played an outstanding innings, scoring an unbeaten 87 off just 47 balls, as defending champions England cruised to an eight-wicket victory over the West Indies in their T20 World Cup Super Eight encounter on Wednesday.
Salt smashed seven fours and five sixes during his aggressive innings at the Daren Sammy National Stadium in St. Lucia. He was well-supported by Jonny Bairstow, who remained unbeaten on 48, as England chased down West Indies’ total of 180-4 with ease, finishing on 181-2 off 17.3 overs.
Salt was awarded the Player of the Match for his match-winning performance, particularly excelling in the 16th over where he hammered 30 runs off Romario Shepherd, including three sixes and three fours.
The victory marked a strong comeback for England, who struggled earlier in the tournament but showed their class in the Super Eight stage.
After the match, Salt credited Bairstow for his crucial partnership, emphasizing the importance of staying composed and taking calculated risks during their innings.
West Indies captain Rovman Powell acknowledged his team’s bowling shortcomings, conceding that they failed to execute their plans effectively against Salt, who he acknowledged has consistently been a thorn in their side.
Earlier, England’s disciplined bowling effort restricted West Indies to a moderate total despite a solid start from their openers. Moeen Ali and Liam Livingstone made crucial breakthroughs to contain the West Indian batsmen.
In conclusion, England’s comprehensive victory over West Indies highlighted their strong form in the T20 World Cup, setting them on course for further success in the tournament.
