GROS-ISLET (Saint Lucia) (AFP) – Defending champions England defeated the West Indies by eight wickets in their T20 World Cup Super Eight clash in St. Lucia on Wednesday.
Chasing the West Indies 180-4, England raced to their victory target in the 18th over thanks to 87 by Phil Salt and 48 by Jonny Bairstow. Skipper Jos Buttler contributed 25 runs.
Earlier, Johnson Charles top-scored with 38 as hosts the West Indies set England a victory target of 181.
A disciplined England bowling performance restricted West Indies to 180-4 off their 20 overs to leave the Group 2 match at the Daren Sammy National Stadium finely balanced.
After England won the toss and opted to bowl, the West Indies made a smooth start with openers Charles and Brandon King in control.
Even after King retired hurt for 23 in the fifth over, the runs continued to flow, with Charles forming a handy partnership with Nicholas Pooran.
The West Indies reached the halfway stage of the innings at 82-0 and looked poised to put up a commanding total.
But England spinner Moeen Ali finally made the breakthrough after Charles was caught in the deep by Harry Brook for 38 off 34 balls in the 12th over.
West Indies skipper Rovman Powell threatened to cut loose after blasting five sixes in a quickfire 36 off just 17 deliveries.
But after bludgeoning Liam Livingstone for three sixes in the 15th over, the English bowler got his revenge with the final delivery, tempting Powell into a top edge which was snagged by Mark Wood at short third man.
That left the score at 137-2, and Pooran fell soon afterwards, caught behind by skipper Jos Buttler off Jofra Archer to leave the Windies wobbling on 141-3.
Andre Russell fell for one off Adil Rashid to make it 143-4, before a quickfire unbeaten 28 from Sherfane Rutherford gave the West Indies a more competitive total.
Rashid was the pick of the England bowlers, finishing with 1-21 off four overs.
TEAMS
West Indies: 1 Brandon King, 2 Johnson Charles, 3 Nicholas Pooran (wk), 4 Roston Chase, 5 Rovman Powell (capt), 6 Andre Russell, 7 Sherfane Rutherford, 8 Romario Shepherd, 9 Akeal Hosein, 10 Alzarri Joseph, 11 Gudakesh Motie
England: 1 Phil Salt, 2 Jos Buttler (capt & wk), 3 Jonny Bairstow, 4 Harry Brook, 5 Moeen Ali, 6 Liam Livingstone, 7 Sam Curran, 8 Jofra Archer, 9 Mark Wood, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Reece Topley