Opener Phil Salt scored 119 as England leveled the five-match T20 series with a 75-run win over the West Indies at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad.
Sent in to bat, England got off to a flying start. Openers Salt, hit debutant Matthew Forde for a six and four in consecutive balls to close the opening over. After Akeal Hosein and Kyle Mayers slowed things down in the second and third overs, with only nine runs in both overs, Jos Buttler and Salt took 37 runs in the next two overs from Hosein and Forde, hitting three sixes and four fours.
They added 117 runs in one ball less of 10 overs. Buttler was the first to be dismissed, after hitting three sixes and six fours in his 29-ball knock, Jason Holder had Buttler caught down to long-on.
The next partnership between Salt and Will Jacks produced 56 runs in three overs and five balls and ended with the wicket of Jacks to Hosein. He hit a pair of fours and a pair of sixes, leaving the score at 173 for two in 13 overs and four balls.
The third wicket partnership produced 73 runs in four overs and five balls, with Salt and Liam Livingstone. Salt got to his second century in just 48 balls in the 15th over as England was looking to post a huge total.
England eventually closed on 267 for 3, their highest total.
West Indies got off to a catastrophic start when they lost Brandon King for a first ball ‘duck,’ caught at short third-man.
Nicholas Pooran went in, hitting two fours and two sixes raising the spectators hopes. But in the second over, Mayers skied one to Chris Woakes who caught it from a second attempt to give Reece Topley a wicket.
The pair of Shai Hope and Pooran lasted only two overs and two balls when Pooran was out for 39 runs, hitting three fours and four sixes in only 15 balls.
West Indies added 20 runs in the next seven balls when Hope was out for 16, with the score being 78 for four in the sixth over.
The partnership with Rovman Powell and Sherfane Rutherford produced 28 runs in two and a half overs. Powell then departed for four at 106 for 5 in seven overs and five balls. Rutherford departed six balls later for 36 smacking five fours and two sixes from just 15 balls.
Andre Russell stood tall and pushed West Indies to 192 all out in 15.3 overs and three balls. Russell being the last man out for 51, as the host ended with 75 runs short of victory.
Phil Salt was named the man of the match.
