In a scintillating display of power hitting, England’s Phil Salt blasted a majestic century to set up a commanding eight-wicket win over the West Indies in the opening T20 International at the iconic Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday night.
Salt Turns Up the Heat
Coming off a remarkable run of form against the West Indies, Salt maintained his blistering pace, reaching his century off just 53 deliveries. His innings was studded with an array of breathtaking shots that left the partisan home crowd stunned and his teammates in awe.
“It was one of those nights where everything just clicked,” revealed a delighted Salt after his match-winning performance. “To do it here at the Kensington Oval, a ground I’ve watched so much cricket at growing up, is really special.”
Early Windies Wobble
England’s victory charge was set in motion by a fiery opening spell from pacer Saqib Mahmood. His early burst reduced the hosts to a precarious 18/3 inside the first four overs, leaving them shell-shocked and staring down the barrel.
Windies Fightback
However, the West Indies, bolstered by the return of power hitters like Andre Russell and Nicholas Pooran, refused to go down without a fight. Russell, in particular, launched a blistering counter-attack, at one point smashing a monstrous six over the pavilion and onto the streets.
“For every six that was struck, a wicket would fall. It was a mentality best exhibited by Motie, who arrived at 117/8 and promptly dispatched his first two balls for maximums.”
– An onlooker described the see-saw battle
Topley Tantrum
Amidst the carnage, England suffered an injury scare when pacer Reece Topley slipped and fell in his delivery stride. Visibly frustrated, he took his anger out on a plastic chair in the pavilion before limping off, adding drama to an already pulsating contest.
Homecoming Heroes
Chasing 183 for victory, England’s Barbados-born duo of Salt and Jacob Bethell made the Kensington Oval their own. With friends and family cheering them on from the stands, Salt unleashed a barrage of boundaries while Bethell, on T20I debut, crafted a stylish half-century.
Buttler Blip
The only blemish in England’s chase came when skipper Jos Buttler, returning after a five-month layoff, was spectacularly caught by Motie for a golden duck. It mattered little though, as Salt’s onslaught ensured the tourists romped home with 19 balls to spare.
Salt’s Sizzling Stats
- 3 centuries in last 5 T20Is against West Indies
- 456 runs at an average of 228 in those matches
- Struck at a strike rate of over 200 in this match
This emphatic win sets the tone for what promises to be a riveting five-match series. As the teams head to Grenada for the next clash, West Indies will need to regroup quickly to halt the rampaging Salt and a buoyant England outfit riding high on confidence and self-belief.
