England flex batting muscles to level series

In an incredible display of batting prowess, England leveled the series against West Indies with a commanding win at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad. Phil Salt led the charge with two T20I innings worth over 100 runs each, including 19 sixes and 11 fours. Jos Buttler and Liam Livingstone also stepped up with fiery fifties, overpowering West Indies in a crucial game.

England's stunning start

Only in the previous match, Salt had hammered 109 runs off just 56 balls to secure a successful run-chase. Now, batting first, he continued his remarkable form by smashing 119 runs off just 57 balls, including 10 sixes. The overcast conditions led West Indies to put England in to bat, but Salt punished them for it right from the first over, hitting Matthew Forde for a boundary and a six.

But it wasn't just Salt who impressed on the evening. Jos Buttler joined him in attacking from the beginning, particularly targeting Akeal Hosein in the fourth over, which yielded 15 runs. Salt continued to dominate against Forde, taking advantage of loose deliveries. By the end of the PowerPlay, England had already amassed 68 runs, with Salt contributing 39 of them.

The onslaught continued as Buttler took on Gudakesh Motie in the seventh over, hitting him for two fours. In the eighth over, Salt reached his fifty off just 23 balls, setting himself up for another big innings. Motie became the bowler to suffer as Buttler smashed three sixes in the ninth over, bringing up England's 100 and Buttler's fifty. However, Jason Holder provided some relief for West Indies by dismissing Buttler for a well-made 55 off 29 balls.

Did West Indies catch a break?

Not quite. Salt welcomed Sherfane Rutherford into the attack with three consecutive sixes on the leg side. Will Jacks, the new batsman, also went on the offensive against Hosein and Andre Russell, forming a rapid 50-run partnership in just 19 deliveries. Jacks fell to Hosein after a quick cameo of 24 runs off just nine balls. But as he departed, Liam Livingstone took his place, denying West Indies any respite on a difficult day for their bowlers. Salt went on to score his second consecutive T20I century in the 15th over, after which Livingstone took charge, disdainfully attacking the death overs.

Livingstone faced 18 balls and struck 51 runs, including four fours and four sixes. The last five overs of England's innings produced 21, 14, 20, 12, and 17 runs respectively, propelling the visitors to a massive total of 267 for 3.

Chaotic start to West Indies' chase

Facing an imposing target, West Indies had no choice but to go all out from the beginning. This resulted in a chaotic start as Moeen Ali dismissed Brandon King on the first ball but leaked 20 runs in the over. The rest of the PowerPlay followed a similar pattern, with both sides exchanging blows as Kyle Mayers, Nicholas Pooran, and Shai Hope fell within the first six overs. Despite the wickets, West Indies had managed to accumulate 87 runs by the end of the PowerPlay.

Could they consolidate?

Unfortunately, England continued to take frequent wickets, thwarting West Indies' big-hitting aspirations. Rovman Powell was dismissed for just four in the eighth over, while Sherfane Rutherford, who had made a promising start, fell to Rehan Ahmed after scoring 36 runs off 15 balls. At this stage, West Indies found themselves at 120 for 6, with only Andre Russell remaining as a potential threat to England. Although Russell played some characteristic big shots, hitting five sixes and three fours on his way to a 25-ball 51, the lower-order failed to support him in attempting the unlikely. As a result, West Indies were bowled out for 192 in the 16th over.

Brief Scores:

England - 267/3 in 20 overs (Phil Salt 119, Jos Buttler 55, Liam Livingstone 54*)

West Indies - 192 in 15.3 overs (Andre Russell 51; Reece Topley 3-37, Rehan Ahmed 2-42)

England won by 75 runs.