GROS ISLET: In a resounding turnaround, defending champions England overcame their initial struggles in the Twenty20 World Cup with a convincing eight-wicket victory over the previously unbeaten West Indies in their Super Eight opener at the Daren Sammy National Stadium in St Lucia on Wednesday.
England's bowlers contained West Indies to 180-4 on a pitch where the hosts had scored 218 against Afghanistan just days earlier. Opening batsman Phil Salt led the charge with a blistering 87 off 47 balls, ensuring England achieved their target inside 18 overs.
After narrowly advancing to the second stage on net run rate, England gained a significant confidence boost by defeating one of the tournament's form teams, securing the top spot in Group 2 alongside South Africa, whom they face next on Friday.
"We did really well to restrict such a powerful batting lineup," remarked England captain Jos Buttler. "It's a good score, and you have to play well to chase it down. Our batting approach was very smart."
The clash between the only two teams to have won the T20 World Cup twice promised a high-scoring encounter. Credit goes to England's bowlers for their disciplined performance, preventing the explosive West Indies lineup from unleashing its full potential.
Choosing to field after winning the toss, England's bowlers delivered 51 dot balls and took key wickets in the latter part of the innings, ensuring no West Indies batsman reached a half-century.
"We left 15-20 runs out there as a batting group and could have bowled better," lamented West Indies captain Rovman Powell. "Credit to England's bowling unit; they had clear plans and executed them well."
Despite a strong start, West Indies lost momentum after opener Johnson Charles fell for 38. Nicholas Pooran and Powell added 36 each before England's bowlers tightened the screws further, limiting the hosts to 180.
England's chase began solidly with Salt and Buttler (25) putting on 67 for the first wicket. Salt continued to dominate, complemented by Jonny Bairstow (48 not out), who anchored the innings with calculated risks.
"I couldn't be happier," said Salt, reflecting on his partnership with Bairstow. "Jonny took the pressure off me with his aggressive play. It was crucial to stay focused and finish the job."
Published in Dawn on June 21st, 2024.
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