England have ticked the first main box in their pursuit for a semi-final spot, chasing down the West Indies’ target of 181 with eight wickets in hand.
A composed Phil Salt (87 not out off 47 balls) and Johnny Bairstow (48 not out off 26) saw the tourist’s home with the bat in Saintt Lucia, with the Windies’ impressive first innings total not quite enough to hold off the reigning champions.
The dynamic duo peppered seven sixes between them – four of which were smashed on the leg side, while Salt also hit three straight down the ground.
The win now leaves England in good stead to progress through to the semi-finals, now possibly only needing one win against either of South Africa or the USA.
Conversely, the Windies will need some luck in addition to wins over the same two countries, if they are to advance beyond the Super 8 stage.
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The West Indies got off to a hot start after being sent in to bat by England, with Johnson Charles and Brandon King hitting five fours and a six in their first 25 deliveries at the crease.
Injury was the partnership breaker between the duo however, as King retired hurt from a side strain – ending up unbeaten on 23 from just 13 balls.
Captain of the host’s Nicholas Pooran took off from where the 29-year-old opener left off, getting himself to 16 runs off nine balls before quick Mark Wood alongside veteran spinners Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali dried up the run rate eight to 10.
82 runs without loss at the halfway mark of their innings, and the West Indies looked set to absolutely launch towards a total beyond 200.
Charles departed for 38 off 34 balls at the start of the 12th over, passing the baton to Rovman Powell to continue to the damage.
And that he did in the 13th and 14th over, including three sixes in five balls to look like giving the Caribbean islands a tonne of momentum heading into the final five overs of the innings.
However, the captain miscued a slog to short-third man and into the hands of quick Mark Wood on the final ball of Liam Livingstone’s expensive over to end on 36 runs from just 17 balls – with zero fours and five sixes.
From there, the it was a mixture of wickets and boundaries that saw the West Indies eventually finish on 4/180 at the innings end, with Sherfane Rutherford (28 not out off 15) and Romario Shephard (5 off 7) finishing with red ink.
Adil Rashid (1-21 off four overs) was evidently England’s best bowler, while Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer and Livingstone also chipped in with a wicket each.
“It’s a good total clearly, but it’s also the best pitch across the region that we’ve seen in all the matches and all the grounds that we’ve been at,” England great Michael Atherton said at the innings break.
“I feel like England would have gone into the break pretty satisfied, given that the West Indies didn’t quite get the kick that they normally get in the final five overs of the innings.”
“That came because of a brilliant over to Jofra Archer – the 16th over of the innings when he bowled four or five pinpoint Yorkers to Nicholas Pooran and eventually dismissing him.”
England started slow and steady with the bat, and were given some early chances.
Salt was handed a life on seven when he was dropped by keeper-captain Pooran in the third over of the innings – with a tough edge off the toe of the bat slipping out of the gloves.
The English pair then finished their six-over powerplay strongly at 0-58 – closed out by a well-guided hook shot for six from Phil Salt off West Indies quick Alzarri Joseph.
Salt and captain Jos Buttler tried to take it to left-arm orthodox Akeal Hosein (0-19 off three in the powerplay) early, but struggled.
“You can see the intent to try and score off (Hosein) – they haven’t got it, apart from the (one) four through the off side,” said West Indian great Sir Ian Bishop on commentary.
Buttler eventually fell to right-arm off break Roston Chase (1-19 off three) in the eighth over, giving the West Indies some hope during the middle overs.
“That’s excellent awareness and bowling from Roston Chase … that was 15 kilometres per hour quicker than the previous delivery; pushed it out of the front of the hand, and the West Indies have got the big scalp of Jos Buttler for 25,” – former English test cricket Ian Ward said on commentary.
Moeen Ali (13 off 10) came and went after being given a life the over before his eventual departure, with Pooran again dropping a catch behind the stumps; this time off Chase’s bowling.
Veteran Johnny Bairstow replaced Ali and joined Salt at the crease to compile an unbeaten 97-run partnership that won the Poms the game.
“That’s good batting – this is a good, little innings from Johnny Bairstow,” Nasser Hussain said during his innings that featured five fours and two sixes.
Salt iced the game in the 16th over, nailing a whopping 30 runs off the over – with an over reading 4, 6, 4, 6, 6, 4 from the bowling of Romario Shephard (0-41 off 2) setting Gros Islet alight.
England review LBW, after ball hits arm | 00:49
“Absolutely clinical from England,” said former England ODI captain Eoin Morgan immediately after the match.
“The aggressive nature of which England want to play was completely evident this evening – including Phil Salt, who absolutely loves playing against the West Indies.”
West Indies skipper Rovman Powell commented on the match post-game with Atherton.
“Credit has to be given to Phil (Salt), he seems to like playing against the West Indies – every time he plays against (us), he always hurts us,” Powell admitted.
“Having said that, I think we strayed away a little bit from our plans – especially to Phil.”
“I think we bowled really well to restrict such a powerful batting line up (with) such great six hitters especially,” Jos Buttler said post-game to Atherton.
The Poms’ next match is against South Africa at 12:30am AEST Saturday morning, while the West Indies play co-hosts the USA at 10:30am AEST later the same day.