ENG vs WI: Phil Salt’s historic century leads England to dominant win over West Indies

Phil Salt's explosive unbeaten 103 off 54 balls guided England to a dominant eight-wicket victory over the West Indies in the opening match of their five-game T20I series.

Salt's remarkable knock, his third T20I century—all against the West Indies—ensured England successfully chased a challenging 183-run target with 19 balls to spare at the Kensington Oval, Barbados, marking the venue's highest-ever chase.

The run chase began with a flourish as Salt and Will Jacks launched an assault in the PowerPlay, amassing 73 runs in the first six overs. While Jacks departed for a brisk 24, Salt continued the rampage, treating the crowd to a masterclass of power hitting. His onslaught was supported by Jacob Bethell's quickfire 58* off 36, with their unbroken 107-run partnership sealing the win in style. This victory also saw Salt achieve a historic milestone, becoming the first player to notch three T20I centuries against the same opponent.

England's chase hit a brief roadblock when skipper Jos Buttler was dismissed for a golden duck by Romario Shepherd, immediately following Jacks' departure. However, Bethell quickly found his rhythm, and alongside Salt, effectively countered West Indies’ attempts to mount pressure. Akeal Hosain bowled tightly, but Salt attacked other bowlers, notably taking 24 runs off Shamar Joseph's opening over, leaving West Indies struggling for answers.

Earlier, England’s bowlers put West Indies on the back foot after being asked to field. Saqib Mahmood (4-34) ripped through the top order, reducing the hosts to 18/3 in the early overs. Adil Rashid's 3-32 further kept the pressure, leaving West Indies reeling at 69/5 and later at 117/8. Contributions from Andre Russell (30 off 17), Romario Shepherd (35* off 22), and Gudakesh Motie (33* off 14) provided a late boost, helping the hosts reach a respectable 182.