New Delhi: England crushed West Indies by eight wickets in a Super 8 clash of the T20 World Cup 2024 held at the Darren Sammy International Cricket Stadium in St. Lucia on Thursday. For co-hosts Windies, the loss meant England ended their longest winning streak in the T20Is (8 in 2024). Phil Salt took centre stage while chasing the 181-run target set by the Caribbean players as he unleashed a storm on the island with his blitz 87* off 47 laced with seven fours and five sixes.
England looked comfortable while chasing and executed their plans correctly right from the start. Inviting West Indies to bat first, the English bowlers halted West Indies at 180/4 in 20 overs in what was indeed a daunting total but their bowlers were quite wayward in line and length as the Englishmen with willows strolled past the target with utter easiness.
During the chase which England completed in a mere 17.3 overs at the cost of two wickets, Salt unleashed carnage against Romario Shepherd in the 16th over. Salt started off with a four that got him to his fifty and went on to hit two more fours and three sixes to get 30 runs off the over and wrap things up quickly. The West Indies crowd sat with gloomy faces watching their side endure a first loss of the marquee event.
Salt was supported in the end by Jonny Bairstow who hit an unbeaten and crucial 48 off 26 balls inclusive of five fours and two maximums. Captain Jos Buttler contributed with 25 and Moeen Ali scored 13. Andre Russell and Roston Chase could pick the consolatory wickets, one each.
A dominant win by England in St Lucia 🙌#T20WorldCup | #ENGvWI | 📝 https://t.co/yoAQ3gQdlb pic.twitter.com/0YTli2xiKQ
— ICC (@ICC) June 20, 2024
West Indies innings
Earlier as West Indies openers strode out to bat, Brandon King (23 off 13) and Johnson Charles (38 off 34) delivered a flying start to their side. King was soon retired hurt and Nicholas Pooran (36 off 32) came in to showcase his batting prowess. Skipper Rovman Powell struck 36 off 17 balls laced with five maximums with three of them coming in Liam Livingston’s over, who had the last laugh sending him back in the same over.
Sherfane Rutherford provided a late flourish of 15-ball 28 as he hit four and two sixes and took West Indies to 180/4 in 20 overs. England now sit on the top of the Group 2 points table while the Windies sit last.
Phil Salt smashed an unbeaten 87 off 47 deliveries as England handed West Indies their first loss of the T20 World Cup 2024 in a Super 8 clash in St. Lucia on Thursday. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
