England started their Super Eight campaign with an authoritative victory over West Indies in St. Lucia, after late innings assaults from Phil Salt and Jonny Bairstow carried them over the line in a chase of 181.
Jos Buttler won the toss and elected for his side to bowl first on a used pitch at the Daren Sammy Stadium; his opposite number Rovman Powell said that he'd have done the same.
The opening exchanges were cagey. England were unable to prise out an early breakthrough but the hosts did not capitalise on a wicketless opening stand. They did, though, lose Brandon King to injury just as he was beginning to look dangerous. Two overs before he limped off the field, King deposited Reece Topley for an enormous six that flew out of the stadium and prompted an early change in ball. It remains to be seen whether he features again in the tournament.
England kept West Indies under control in the overs that followed the powerplay. Moeen Ali eventually struck in the 12th, luring Johnson Charles, who was struggling with his timing, into a big shot with a ball that was hidden well outside his off stump.
Powell added impetus to the Windies innings, heaving five sixes in his 17-ball stay at the crease, including three off a single Liam Livingstone over. But Livingstone had the last laugh, dismissing Powell with the final delivery of that otherwise profitable West Indies over.
Jofra Archer followed that Livingstone intervention up with the over of the innings, bowling six consecutive deliveries to a well-set and in-form Nicholas Pooran, conceding just four runs and taking his wicket, finding success bowling pace-on, yorker-length deliveries outside the left-hander's off stump.
Adil Rashid (1-21) picked up the wicket of Andre Russell in a 17th over that conceded just two runs, before Sherfane Rutherford's cameo of 28 off 15 took West Indies to a more than competitive total of 180-4 from their 20 overs.
The start of England's response mirrored West Indies' as they took 58 runs without loss from the opening six overs. The main difference between the two sides' approach was their use of spin. West Indies were spin-heavy throughout their defence, with Akeal Hosein bowling three frugal overs on the trot in the powerplay, finding success with his array of variations.
Unsuprisingly, it was spin that made the first England breakthrough with Roston Chase trapping Buttler in front with a full toss that the England captain played all around. Moeen Ali was promoted to No. 3 for the first time in over a year in T20I cricket, seemingly in an attempt to counter the left-arm spin threat of Motie and Hosein.
He fell to Russell for 10-ball 13, bringing Jonny Bairstow to the crease at No. 4. The Yorkshireman was aggressive from ball one, taking on both pace and spin, marrying his power with touch to keep England within distance of the rate as his partner Phil Salt was happy knocking the ball around into gaps at the other end.
Pace was generally expensive – Alzarri Joseph saw his first two overs both go for 14 runs – but spin was difficult to get away on a pitch that often saw the ball get stuck in the pitch.
The key over was the 15th as Powell brought his most dangerous bowler, Hosein, back into the attack with the contest in the balance. Bairstow wasn't content with mere survival, taking on Hosein with success. There was some luck – the third boundary of the over was an inside edge that narrowly missed Bairstow's leg stump – but it was generally smart batting from the England No. 4, adapting his approach to the field and conditions around him. The most eye-catching shot of the 16-run over was a six over deep mid-wicket that was carried over the boundary by the significant breeze that blew across the ground all game.
With the finishing line in sight Salt went through the gears, blasting Romario Shepherd for 30 runs in an over to all but seal the game.
England eventually won by eight wickets and 15 balls to spare, not only earning a statement win but giving England a handy Net Run Rate boost in the early stages of their Super Eight campaign.
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