T20 Salt and Bairstow
The defending champions defeated the co-hosts with strong batting from their top-order in Gros Islet, winning the match with 15 balls remaining.
Phil Salt scored a powerful 87 not out, and Jonny Bairstow added an unbeaten 48, helping England beat the West Indies by eight wickets in St Lucia. This performance sent a strong message to the other teams in the Super Eight of the T20 World Cup 2024.
England easily chased their target of 181 runs, with Salt and Bairstow’s partnership of 97 runs securing victory with 15 balls remaining.
T20 Salt and Bairstow take West Indies down with ease
On a good batting pitch at the Daren Sammy National Stadium, England’s captain Jos Buttler chose to bowl first. The West Indies were in a good position with 72 runs after eight overs, despite losing Brandon King to a side strain in the fifth over after he had scored 23 runs from 12 balls.
West Indies’ batters were held back by spin bowlers Adil Rashid, who took 1 for 21 in four overs, and Moeen Ali, who dismissed Johnson Charles.
T20 Salt and Bairstow take West Indies down with ease
Rovman Powell moved himself up to bat at number 4 and hit Liam Livingstone for three sixes in the 15th over, scoring 20 runs. However, he was caught by Mark Wood at short third on the fourth ball, ending his aggressive streak.
This started a collapse, with three wickets falling for just six runs in 12 deliveries. Jofra Archer dismissed Nicholas Pooran caught behind in the next over, and Andre Russell hit a Rashid googly straight to wide long on.
Bairstow clicks himself, and Salt, into gear
Phil Salt earned the Player-of-the-Match award, but Jonny Bairstow’s support was crucial for their and England’s success.
Salt scored a solid 35 off 20 balls during the powerplay. However, after the field spread out and spin bowlers took over, he slowed down, adding only 12 more runs from 15 balls by the 14th over.
Bairstow then gave the innings a boost. Instead of continuing with the economical Roston Chase, Rovman Powell brought back Alzarri Joseph. Bairstow capitalized on this, hitting the first ball for six over deep midwicket and the next for four, reigniting their momentum.
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Archer glee
Initially, it didn’t seem wise for Livingstone to bowl an over and give away 20 runs for Powell’s wicket, especially since Powell was averaging just 16.25 before this match. However, Powell hitting three sixes excited the local St Lucian crowd and set the stage for Russell to join Pooran, who was already on 32 runs.
T20 Salt and Bairstow take West Indies down with ease
Both Pooran and Russell were dismissed within 11 balls. Rashid’s wicket of Russell was significant, but Archer’s performance in the 17th over was crucial. Bowling to Pooran, Archer delivered fast, accurate balls, except for one full toss that Pooran hit for four. Archer’s consistent pace around 90mph and precise line made it difficult for Pooran, who edged the ball to Buttler and got out.
Archer, now with six wickets, is England’s joint top wicket-taker alongside Rashid, with an impressive economy rate of 6.58. He has played five times for England in the last 15 days, a significant improvement after struggling with injuries for the past two years.
