The English contingent kicked off the Super-8 phase of the ICC T20 World Cup with a win against West Indies on Wednesday. After winning the toss and putting the opposition in to bat, it seemed like the decision of fielding first would backfire. At one stage it looked as if the West Indies would score 200+ without breaking a sweat.
But a couple of important wickets like that of Pooran and Powell restricted West Indies to only 180 in the end. Powell starred for the Windies by scoring 36 off 17 balls while Sherfane Rutherford’s late cameo added to the Windies’ cause as well. Adil Rashid bowled beautifully for England giving away only 21 runs while picking up the wicket of the dangerous Andre Russell.
Windies get a taste of the British “SALT”
Phil Salt came out to bat with Jos Buttler after restricting West Indies to just 180 at the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground in Saint Lucia. The English openers put on a healthy partnership before Jos Buttler succumbed to Roston Chase on 25. England lost their 2nd wicket comparatively early as Moeen Ali departed for a poor score of just 13 runs.
With Phil Salt manning the other end, In walked Jonny Bairstow. The partnership that ensued made sure that England made it home with ample deliveries still to go. Phil Salt has been on top of his game for some time now and was an integral part of the Kolkata Knight Rider’s IPL winning campaign. While Bairstow had a hit-and-miss IPl tournament, it is always difficult to not count him as a match-winner for the England team.
Salt scored an unbeaten 87 off 47 deliveries not reaching a deserved only due to the incapability of the opposing team to post a bigger total. This run-fest included a 30-run thrashing of Romario Shepherd in a single over. With 40 needed to win off 30 balls, Phil Salt, stuck on 49 decided to go all guns blazing in the 16th over. He scored 4,6,4,6,6,4 in the next 6 balls to add salt to the wounds of Romario Shepherd.
Bairstow made a healthy contribution of 48 runs in 26 balls as the English chased down the target with 15 balls still to go.
With a win against the West Indies, England will be looking forward to their clash against South Africa who won their Super-8 game against a USA side that has exceeded expectations throughout the tournament. The winner of the SA vs England match will definitely make it to the Semi-Finals of the World Cup while the losing team will have to win their final Super-8 game in any case, to qualify for the Semis.
The finalists of the last T20 World Cup will be eyeing that semi-final spot to go and finish their unfinished business.
