England stormed to a dominant eight-wicket victory over West Indies in the first T20 international in Barbados, with Phil Salt leading the charge in a blistering display of power hitting. The tourists chased down a target of 183 in a mere 16.5 overs, thanks largely to Salt’s unbeaten century off just 54 balls, a knock that included nine boundaries and six colossal sixes.
The West Indies tailenders, led by Romario Shepherd and Gudakesh Motie, offered a late fightback, adding 65 runs off the final 5.2 overs. They rallied from a precarious 117-8 in the 15th over to reach 182-9, thanks to a 49-run ninth-wicket partnership. Despite this late surge, the West Indies innings was ultimately hampered by an early collapse. Saqib Mahmood, returning career-best figures of 4-34, ripped through the top order with three wickets in his second over, including a double-wicket maiden.
England’s chase was a masterclass in aggressive batting. Salt set the tone with his explosive innings, smashing four boundaries and a six off one Shamar Joseph over, adding 24 runs to the score in the process. He shared a crucial 107-run unbeaten partnership with Jacob Bethell, who also notched up a maiden half-century in his first T20I appearance. Bethell provided a calm presence alongside Salt’s fireworks, navigating the chase with composure.
There was one early hiccup for England as returning captain Jos Buttler was dismissed for a first-ball duck, caught by Motie in a stunning grab. Despite this, the tourists never lost their momentum, cruising towards victory with an impressive display of power hitting and solid partnerships.
This resounding win gives England a strong start to the five-match series and sets the stage for an exciting battle between these two cricketing powerhouses.
