West Indies v England: Phil Salt’s century sets up visitors’ record T20 total to level series

Phil Salt’s second successive century helped England hit their highest T20 international total in a chaotic 75-run win over West Indies to level the series.

Captain Jos Buttler smashed 55 from 29 balls and Liam Livingstone added an unbeaten 54 from 21 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad.

West Indies kept up with the imposing run-rate during their entertaining chasing effort, but regular wickets cost them, the hosts falling to 192 all out.

The hosts amassed 87 from the first six overs, but England held their nerve and fought back to break every dangerous partnership, with every bowler taking at least one wicket.

All-rounder Andre Russell gave the hosts late hope with a dynamic 24-ball half-century before he was the last batter to be dismissed in the 16th over by Reece Topley, who finished with 3-37.

The series is level at 2-2, with the decider taking place at the same venue on Thursday.

England’s record innings in numbers

• England’s 267-3 surpasses their previous record in men’s T20 internationals of 241-3 against New Zealand in Napier in 2019
• It is the fifth highest total in all men’s T20 internationals
• Salt’s 119 took him past Alex Hales’ 116 not out against Sri Lanka at Chattogram in 2014 for the highest score by an England men’s batter in T20 internationals
• Salt is the first England men’s batter to hit two T20 international centuries. Danni Wyatt has done so for England’s women
• Salt is the third men’s batter to hit back-to-back T20 international centuries after Gustav McKeon (France) and Rilee Rossouw (South Africa)
• He hit 10 sixes in his knock – the most by an England men’s batter in a T20 international innings

Salt leads England’s batting carnage

On the same day that Salt went unsold in the mini-auction for next year’s Indian Premier League, he subjected West Indies’ weary bowlers to another brutal onslaught.

A depleted bowling line-up, with attack leader Alzarri Joseph resting for the final two matches of the series, had no answers to the opener’s power as he launched anything full down the ground, was quick to pull short balls and scored freely against spin and pace on a flat pitch.

Salt added 117 in just 9.5 overs with Buttler, bettering the 115 they hit together in Saturday’s third T20 for the fifth highest opening stand for England’s men in this format.

Buttler’s 26-ball half-century went somewhat under the radar compared Salt’s brilliance but a second straight fifty for the captain provides England with a welcome boost, after his disappointing World Cup showing.

Salt was not fazed when Buttler picked out out long-on off Jason Holder, putting on stands of 56 from 23 balls with Will Jacks and 73 from just 29 deliveries with Livingstone.

The batting performance, alongside their successful chase of 223 in the third T20, was so dominant that England’s recent white-ball woes seem scarcely believable, with the confidence of Salt and Buttler oozing into each new batter who was able to strike with conviction from their first ball.

West Indies’ bowlers, who lacked the consistency and pace of Joseph, were guilty of bowling too straight and into the batters’ arc, with T20 debutant Matthew Forde conceding 54 from three wicketless overs.

Spinner Akeal Hosein’s 1-36 was a rare bright spark, as he and Kyle Mayers – who strangely only bowled one over – were the only two to concede fewer than 10 runs per over.

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