Salt century fires England to victory in first T20

First T20, Barbados

West Indies 182-9 (20 overs): Pooran 38 (29), Shepherd 35* (22); Mahmood 4-34

England 183-2 (16.5 overs): Salt 103* (54), Bethell 58* (36)

England won by eight wickets

Scorecard

Phil Salt powered a superb century to take England to a commanding eight-wicket victory over West Indies in the first T20 in Barbados.

After a disappointing defeat in the one-day international series, Salt struck an unbeaten 103 off 54 balls on the island he used to call home as England cruised to a pursuit of 183.

It was the opener's third T20 hundred for England - all three of which have come against West Indies in the past 12 months.

He crashed his first 50 runs in just 25 balls as England took 73 from the first six overs for the loss of only Will Jacks for 17.

Captain Jos Buttler was sensationally caught for a golden duck on his return to the side after four months out injured but Salt continued, dropping down the gears with the required run-rate under control, as England pulled off the highest T20 chase at the Kensington Oval with 19 balls to spare.

Jacob Bethell, another with Bajan roots, finished unbeaten on 58 from 36 balls alongside Salt, in the process becoming the youngest man to hit a T20 fifty for England, aged 21.

Earlier, West Indies made their imposing total in remarkable fashion, reaching 183-9 despite falling to 18-3 and 117-8.

They managed a further 65 runs in the last 5.2 overs after the eighth wicket fell, with number 10 Gukadesh Motie, who later produced the stunning catch to dismiss Buttler, flogging 33 from 14 balls.

That came as England lost their grip despite a strong start to the innings, with Saqib Mahmood taking 4-34 and Adil Rashid 3-32.

The second of five T20s begins on Sunday at the same ground from 20:00 GMT.

England will wait on the fitness of Reece Topley, who left the field visibly emotional after jarring his knee midway through his third over - the latest blow to a bowler who has had a cruel run of injuries throughout his career.

England struggled for much of the ODI series, at times making it a poor spectacle.

This was entertaining from the outset - the same inexperienced England squad looking far more comfortable in the shorter format.

Salt’s knock was the highlight. There was also Motie’s catch and a sensational one-handed grab at slip by Buttler, who gave up the gloves and dropped down to number three as he finally took the field in England’s white-ball rebuild.

Salt, who spent six years of his youth living in Barbados, ignited England’s chase by hitting a six and four fours in the fourth over, bowled by Shamar Joseph, which cost 24.

He impressively mixed belligerent strokes with classy drives and deft touches. When he reached three figures he roared and charged towards the dressing room in celebration.

As pleasing for England was the performance of Bethell, who did not panic when taking only five runs from his first eight balls.

He was born in Barbados, only moved to England as a 14-year-old and had a large group of family and friends supporting him in the stands. By the end the left-hander, who could make a Test debut in New Zealand later this month, was elegantly driving seamer Romario Shepherd over extra cover for six.

Buttler left the field smiling so good was Motie's catch at third man to dismiss him. On his return, there was plenty more for the England captain to cheer.

England also did so much right for most of their bowling innings.

Mahmood had opener Brandon King caught at extra cover in the second over and in his next Evin Lewis picked out deep square leg and Shimron Hetmyer nicked behind in consecutive balls, leaving the hosts 18-3 before a 35-minute rain interruption.

After the resumption, West Indies skipper Rovman Powell struck two sixes before hitting Adil Rashid’s second ball to long-on and Buttler's catch dismissed Sherfane Rutherford.

Even when Andre Russell belted four sixes in a typically-powerful 30 from 17, England held firm. Russell hit Liam Livingstone to deep cover and Nicholas Pooran departed by skewing Jamie Overton to extra cover for 38 in the next over.

England's missteps came late and were familiar. Again, as they often do across formats, they struggled to wrap up an innings, leaving room for improvement in the rest of the series.

Motie, who played with more class than his batting position suggests, came out swinging - striking his first two balls for six and continuing to take 31 from his first nine balls.

When the left-hander finally picked out deep mid-wicket at the end of penultimate over, giving Mahmood his fourth wicket, England were on the back foot.

Salt ensured that was only temporary.

Player of the match, England opener Phil Salt: "This is probably the place I'm happiest. I enjoy batting here. I've grown up on these surfaces.

"Bethell is a huge talent. He's a 21-year-old lad but if you didn't know how old he was, you'd think he'd played 100 games already."

West Indies captain Rovman Powell: "It didn't really come off. Credit has to be given to the boys. We still managed to score 180.

"We have highlighted the way we want to play. In the bad times we have to keep backing ourselves."

England captain Jos Buttler: "An absolutely fantastic performance, I'm delighted for the guys.

"Salt has been outstanding and obviously he likes playing against West Indies. In the last 12-18 months, he's taken his game to new heights and I'm sure he can go to other levels."