Watch: 30 off 6! Salt destroys West Indies in Super Eight, T20 WC 2024 - Cricket Winner

England started their Super 8 campaign at the T20 World Cup in emphatic fashion, securing a comfortable 8-wicket victory over the hosts, West Indies. Phil Salt and Jonny Bairstow were the stars of the match, ensuring England chased down the target of 181 with 15 balls to spare.

Despite barely making it into the Super 8s, England showed no signs of poor form, dominating West Indies with both bat and ball to kick off their campaign on a high note.

West Indies’ innings: Starts strong, falters in the middle

England won the toss and elected to bowl first. The West Indies openers had a cautious start, but Brandon King soon changed the tempo after switching bats. He hit a massive 101-metre six and followed it up with three boundaries. However, his innings was cut short when a groin injury forced him to retire hurt on 23.

Nicholas Pooran and Johnson Charles steadied the innings, but the England bowlers maintained control. Charles managed to break free briefly, scoring 38 before falling. Rovman Powell then promoted himself up the order and played a blistering cameo, hitting five sixes in his 36 off 17 balls, including three in one over from Liam Livingstone.

Just as West Indies seemed poised for a total near 200, England struck back. Powell fell to Livingstone, Jofra Archer dismissed Pooran (34 off 31), and Adil Rashid removed Andre Russell, who was baited into a loose shot. Sherfane Rutherford’s quick 28 off 15 balls pushed West Indies to a final score of 180, which appeared below par given the conditions.

Phil Salt’s back-to-back sixes seal the win

England’s chase began aggressively with an aim to maximize runs during the powerplay. Phil Salt, recalling his previous success in the Caribbean, led the charge, smashing his KKR teammate Andre Russell for a 100-metre six. By the end of the powerplay, England had amassed 58 runs without losing a wicket, setting a solid foundation.

While Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali’s dismissals gave West Indies a glimmer of hope, Jonny Bairstow and Salt quickly extinguished it. Bairstow played a steady hand, remaining unbeaten on 48, while Salt took the game away from the hosts with his aggressive batting.

Phil's As𝗦𝗔u𝗟𝗧! ⚡

Back-to-back sixes from #PhilSalt ensured the defending champions cruised smoothly in this run chase! 👊🏻

Don't miss the action in the 𝐒𝐔𝐏𝐄𝐑 𝟖 – World Cup ka Super Stage 👉 #AFGvIND | TODAY, 6 PM | #T20WorldCupOnStar | #WIvENG pic.twitter.com/YJ4uagluet

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 20, 2024

Salt’s moment of brilliance came when he smashed Shepherd for 30 runs in one over, including back-to-back sixes that effectively sealed the game for England. His aggressive play and ability to find boundaries at will were instrumental in England’s successful chase. Salt remained unbeaten on 87, guiding his team to victory with ease.

See Also: T20 WC 2024, Super Eight, England vs West Indies: Rovman Powell and Sherfane Rutherford shine as West Indies post a decent total

This comprehensive win not only boosts England’s confidence but also sends a strong message to their Super 8 opponents. England’s next challenge will be to maintain this momentum as they progress further in the T20 World Cup.