1st T20I
England team has taken 1-0 lead after Phil Salt’s blistering knock in the first T20I
West Indies scored 182/9 in 20 overs, where as England scored 183/2 in 16.5 overs.
So, finally England beat West Indies by eight wickets.
Phil Salt’s third T20I century (103* off 54 balls) powered England to a dominant eight-wicket victory over the West Indies in the first match of their five-match T20I series.
Salt’s remarkable knock continued his exceptional record against the West Indies, with all three of his T20I centuries coming against the same opposition.
Chasing a challenging target of 183, Salt’s blistering innings, coupled with an unbroken 107-run partnership with Jacob Bethell (58* off 36), saw England comfortably reach the target with 19 balls to spare.
This also marked the highest successful chase at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.
The chase was off to a flying start with a thrilling Power Play, as England smashed 73 runs, despite Will Jacks’ dismissal on the last ball of the sixth over.
While Jacks’ knock was brief, Salt took center stage, attacking from the outset.
He played particularly aggressively against the bowlers, including Shamar Joseph, who conceded 24 runs in his first over.
West Indies looked to strike back when captain Jos Buttler fell for a golden duck to Romario Shepherd, but Salt continued to dominate.
Bethell joined in and, together, they kept the scoreboard ticking without letting West Indies settle.
The surface was becoming easier to bat on, and the bowlers had no answers to Salt’s onslaught.
Ultimately, the West Indies’ total of 182 was always going to be insufficient.
Earlier, West Indies were in deep trouble at 18/3, after being put in to bat.
Saqib Mahmood (4-34) made early inroads, dismissing Brandon King, Evin Lewis, and Shimron Hetmyer in quick succession to leave the hosts reeling.
Adil Rashid (3-32) also played a key role in breaking the Windies’ middle order, reducing them to 69/5 and later 117/8.
Nicholas Pooran (38 off 29) tried to stabilize the innings, but when he fell, West Indies were in danger of posting a sub-par total.
However, cameos from Andre Russell (30 off 17), Romario Shepherd (35* off 22), and Gudakesh Motie (33* off 14) propelled the total past 180, giving the hosts something to defend.
But despite their late fightback, the total was never enough as Salt made light work of the chase, ensuring a convincing win for England.
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