Phil Salt gets England off to perfect Super 8s start with big West Indies win

West Indies muscled their way to 180 for 4 in the face of a good bowling display from England before the visitors chased it down comfortably with 15 balls remaining off the back of an unbeaten 87 from Phil Salt

Oscar Ress | 20/06/2024 at 04:51

St Lucia: West Indies 180-4, England 181-2 - England won by eight wickets

Phil Salt's 87 not out helped England get off to the perfect start in the Super 8s as they beat hosts West Indies by eight wickets in St Lucia.

West Indies muscled their way to 180 for 4 in the face of a good bowling display from England before the visitors chased it down comfortably with 15 balls remaining.

Contributions in the thirties from Johnson Charles (38), Nicholas Pooran (36), and Rovman Powell (36) helped propel the hosts to 180 for 4 after opener Brandon King was forced to retire injured on 23 off 13 after a brisk start in the powerplay.

England had to wait until the 12th over for their first wicket when Moeen Ali (1 for 15) had Charles caught at long on. Three wickets in as many overs to get Powell, dismissed by Liam Livingstone after being hit for 20 runs in the over, Andre Russell (1) to Adil Rashid (1 for 21) and Jofra Archer dismissing Nicholas Pooran as part of an over that went for just four, helped stall the momentum.

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Brandon King made an excellent start before being forced to retire hurt with a side strain (Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

England made a strong start to the chase and found themselves 58 for 0 after six overs, the highest powerplay score against West Indies in this World Cup.

Captain Jos Buttler (25 off 22 balls) was the first to fall as he was trapped lbw by Roston Chase after putting on 67 for the opening partnership. Moeen (13) was promoted to No.3 to combat the West Indies spinners but was dismissed by Russell after he was caught on the square leg boundary.

Salt, who reached his fifty after 37 balls, and Jonny Bairstow (48 not out) forged a match-winning partnership of 97 off 44 balls.

The England opener looked to be struggling to keep up his powerplay momentum before he powered 30 off Romario Sheperd's 16th over to put the game firmly in England's control.

It was a statement win against a form side as England displayed their title-winning credentials.

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