Phil Salt and Jacob Bethell make hay on happy homecoming to hammer West Indies

A wonderful century from Phil Salt and a debut half-century from Jacob Bethell seal victory for England. There’ll almost definitely be no doubt that chasing is easier when the dew hits the outfield nevertheless to pull off the supreme a success flee chase at Bridgetown, sauntering to victory, is admirable certainly.

Salt brings up his hundred by slamming a low burly toss from Shepherd contaminated-batted by mid-on and by long-on’s determined dive for four. It’s his third T20 hundred within the Caribbean.

The opener flat bats the next ball for a single over mid-off.

Bethell moves England to the verge with a aesthetic force, one knee on the bottom over camouflage for six. Two to gather. That became once the hundred partnership.

The next ball is a leisurely bouncer and Bethell pulls it off his eyebrows for two to get with 19 balls to spare and by wight wickets.

Wait on to Shamar Joseph who goes for a wide and a pair of singles sooner than attempting the brief one that Bethell pulls for six, his first of the innings, to lumber to 49. He goes again next ball, cloths it, alternatively it lands safe at midwicket miles in from the rope and he turns into the youngest England batsman to make 50 in a T20i.

Jacob Bethell passe to dwell in Barbados.

He is honest scored his maiden T20I half-century support where he grew up along with his complete family looking out at on 🥹 pic.twitter.com/Y7CrPAsdUB

— Cricket on TNT Sports activities (@cricketontnt) November 9, 2024

Salt pushes no longer easy for two with a midwicket budge, watches the wide trickle down leg, then cuts the closing ball for a single.

Motie can’t grip the ball neatly as the seam is sodden and tries to persuade the umpire to alternate it and, after Bethell drives with a thickish edge for four, he succeeds. On comes the get of balls. 

The replacement ball is taken for two by Bethell, the use of his bottom hand to flick it by midwicket for two sooner than he whisks one other away for a single. Bethell ends the over with a within the reduction of aesthetic. Powell  misfields then kicks the ball when chasing it as it will get caught on the sanded, churned up outfield and he has to wander to the boundary to claw it support. Motie can barely consider his eyes as they flee three nevertheless correctly, as it’s his captain, stays schtum. The partnership is now 80. England need 27 from 30. 

Russell is fending off the self-discipline and Shepherd comes support. Bethell flat bats the vital over camouflage for two nonetheless attacks a wide one with a horizontal bat to swat it over additional for four. Salt climbs into the brief ball and pulls it for four. Rutherford jumped up on the boundary, bought each and every hands to it alternatively it burst by for six. I deem even had he clung on he would haven’t been in a position to put in bounds anyway, no longer that Shepherd appears to be like sympathetic because that became once the concept.

Salt pat-pulls a single with a roll of the wrists for a single and Bethell makes it 15 off the over by smearing a single by point.  

Motie is disgusted when he beats Bethell initiating air off nevertheless he has a hack at it anyway, having to lean as a ways as he would per chance to attain it, and snicks it for four off a horizontal bat down to third man. That’s the only most important shatter as they fulfill themselves with a single apiece at either cease of the over.

England need Fifty three off 42.

Russell comes support on and spears a burly toss on to Salt’s pads and he merely flicks it for six over long leg. The damp ball slipped out of his hand as the dew takes ruin and so does the next which is sprayed on to leg stump. Salt tickles it round the nook for four extra.  

Russell, as he in most cases does, seems to be to be limping in and England milk him for a pair of singles to provide him no succour. 

Here’s Salt’s tenth innings against West Indies within the Caribbean and he averages honest a lick under 80. 

Hosein will bowl out after a brief drinks spoil. Salt makes use of the perspective into him from round the wicket to shovel a single into the legside. Bethell, the left-hander, is beaten by one that skids previous the brink and regroups to force a single by camouflage. Salt works a single off his stumps down to long on and Bethell scalps a single giving the miserly Hosein closing figures of 4-0-20-0. 

England need 73 off 54. 

Romario Shepherd, after a mini-spoil, and Bethell, savor Salt raised within the Caribbean, performs a handsome on-force on the up for four. The left-hander steals a single with an inelegant flip off the physique and, after a wide, Salt whisks two by midwicket and then swats the slower bouncer for a single, tennis fashion. 

Powell brings the third man into the ring and Bethell opens the face to steer four between him and point, bisecting them brilliantly. 

Motie comes support and Salt scoops him over his shoulder for two then affords himself room to mow the next ball by midwicket for four. Three extra singles own England neatly prior to the velocity.

Powell brings Joseph support on and now with the protection of additional fielders on the rope. He runs in and is told honest to own it tight and cramp the batsmen initiating air off. And after his earlier mauling, this aesthetic prospect starts with two dot balls and only three singles off his first 5 deliveries till Salt performs the deftest of dabs, one that Joe Root would own been proud to name his beget, precariously off center and off, for four. 

Salt brings up his 1000th flee in T20 internationals with a swipe off Shepherd by camouflage for two and then chips a single down the bottom. Buttler is caught by the wonderful Motie in such jaw-losing fashion that Buttler bursts out laughing. And even here in a deserted office establish for me and six colleagues, we whooped with amazement.

Buttler c Motie b Shepherd 0 Even better than Buttler’s two catches. He’s out for a golden duck nevertheless no shame there. He had uppercut a brief ball that became once crusing for six at third man when Motie caught up his left arm and one draw or the opposite the ball caught. Absolute screamer. FOW 75/2

Motie opens with a leg-spoil and Salt clears the front leg to larrup a force, all wrists savor a Buttler hockey shot, for a straight six. Two balls later Motie errs too brief and Salt sledgehammers him over midwicket for six, the ball hitting the stout cloak on the burly. That’s fifty on his extinct stamping floor for Barbados-raised Salt. Then Salt Harrow drives for a single, Jacks drives the leg-stump leg spoil over long on for six and is then gated by a stout leg spoil.

Dazzling opening partnership of 73 off 36.

Jacks b Motie 17 Bowled round the pads attempting to sweep. FOW 73/1

Supreme, Schmeichel-esque infielding within the ring from King and Lewis permits Hosein to rack up four dot balls to Salt bookended by a pair of singles. 

Joseph has been crooked after one over and Motie is coming on. 

Shamar Joseph is entrusted with pace within the Powerplay and begins with a legside wide. Salt flips a opt-up shot over long leg for six and then makes use of the width to intentionally reduce a force high over point for a one-jump four. The next ball is one other brief one and Salt uppercuts it for four extra. No point sweeper for these deliveries and now his captain give shim one so Salt performs a good put-the-pose straight force for four. Elegance and precision timing. The final ball is temporary and initiating air off, designed to elevate the deep point into play and Salt carves a within the reduction of in front of sq. for four extra.

Hosein turns the screw with an impeccable dimension for 5 deliveries and rapid fielding within the infield nevertheless then drops brief and Salt leans support to heave him over long on for six, low and flat nevertheless no longer low wnough for Rutherford to attain.  

Andre Russell shares unique ball duties. He has a dawdle and a brief aesthetic leg who Jacks employs with a flick of the thigh pad for a leg-bye. Salt frees his palms nevertheless is bamboozled by dimension but mute manages to spoon a force over the infield for two down to aesthetic leg. Rutherford shows off his keepie-uppie abilities when Salt slices a force over camouflage. He thinks he can fetch it nevertheless the ball catches the wind as an different and sails away. Hwen it hits the turf it bounces up on to Rutherford’s knee and he has to hook it support from the boundary along with his instep to own them down to three. 

After exchanging singles, Jacks performs a outstanding stroke, the use of the width and his top to attain the comely dimension ball initiating air off and smear it over camouflage point for six!

The left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein starts with an arm ball that slides previous Salt’s inside edge. England’s keeper-batsman drives the next ball for a single by mid-off and Russell sprawls headlong to be sure it became once only one. 

Jacks flicks a single off his pads and Salt finds the boundary with a thumping force that even Powell can not stop at long on even supposing he bought a hand on it. 

The very best a success chase at Bridgetown is 172 for six against England closing yr nevertheless in fairness England did make 204 for none there in 2022 nevertheless lost by 20 runs. Tom Banton made 73 off 39 and Phil Salt 57 off 24 for Moeen Ali’s aspect.

And they’ve successfully chases 183 or extra eight occasions within the previous. 

From 110 for seven, West Indies boldly escaped England’s stranglehold and now the touring aspect will want a file chase in a T20 to get. It’s a leisurely pitch and that’s a towering procure now. England own hardly performed Motie and Hosein neatly. On the total is a puny little bit of an ordeal if the top three can not give England a flying originate.

West Indies were 117 for eight off 14.4 overs in Barbados – the type of position that would per chance well own led other teams to consolidate. Now not this aspect.

West Indies scored 65 from the closing 5.2 overs: some high-probability hitting, nevertheless their intent became once fully vindicated.

Curran’s first ball, a leisurely cutter drifts on to leg and Shepherd flips it for six over long leg. The next ball is supposed to be a wide yorker nevertheless he doesn’t land it and Shepherd throws his bat at it and flays it over additional camouflage for one other six. 

He swings and misses on the next brief ball, pace on from Curran and turns down a single when dragging a hacking support-foot force by mid-on. The fifth ball, burly and wide is dragged again nevertheless this time between fielders and they make it support for two. And he ends the innings slashing a force over point with the self-discipline up for two extra. 

Mahmood is support for his final over, entrusted with the pivotal nineteenth. And he nails the yorker, yielding three singles off his opening three deliveries. He became once mauled in Antigua on the loss of life for 19 off his closing over nevertheless is bowling superbly here. After one other wide yorker that they may be able to no longer procure from, Motie swings and misses on the brief leisurely one after the outdated ball, which bounced elevated, became once referred to as wide. And he dismisses Motie with the closing ball. 

Saqib ends with 4-0-34-4. 

Motie c Mousley b Mahmood 33  Cloths the brief cutter to cow nook.  FOW 166/9

Motie guides Overton’s first ball down by third man for four, foxed by the slower ball he nicks it wide of the keeper. Jammy nevertheless efficient. That’s his very best procure within the format. Shepherd joins in with a legside budge off his toes for four extra. The approach West Indies own stored the pedal to the metal, unfazed by the wickets column, has been admirable. 

Motie waits for Curran’s cutter and slaps it off the support foot with a horizontal bat over camouflage for four then performs an inside out force to a low, leg stump burly toss, wide of mid-off for one other. He’s bought 26 off six balls at a SR of 433.33!

Curran goes too high and free when he sees Motie withdrawing to leg and is called wide. Curran responds by going burly on leg and initiating air and Motie emasculates his strike rate with a dot ball and a single. 

Shepherd flexes his biceps to lamp Livingstone over mid-off for four then taps a single to camouflage. Motie treats Livingstone with th identical shabby dismiss as Rashid, larruping a force over additional camouflage for four then, after a wide, finding the gap at sq. leg to madden England and attain support for two. 

Location a thief to fetch a thief. Having flummoxed Hosein, Rashid is taken down by the opposite Windies spinner, Motie slogging his first ball over long on for six and thumping the next over long off for one other with murderous energy. Rashid understanding the fielder would per chance additionally mute own caught it nevertheless he didn’t own time to gather there, so powerfully became once it hit. 

Hosein lbw b Rashid 2 Hosein became once fully clueless there, misreading each and every leg breaks and the drift. FOW 117/8

Hosein lbw b Rashid  Subsequent ball he pins him on the support leg. Without a doubt that’s out, as the umpire mentioned.

It became once turning previous the left-hander’s leg stump having hit him in front of center. 

Hosein lbw b Rashid Did he hit it? The batsman thinks so. Nope. No bat. Did he deem the leg-spoil became once turning previous leg-stump, then? 

Don’t know why Pooran asked the umpires to check for a neatly-organized fetch. It became once nowhere approach the bottom. Anyway, Overton has his first T20i wicket. Shepherd pulls no longer easy for four and exchanges singles with Hosein to cease the over. 

Pooran c Buttler b Overton 38  Buttler pouched that completely and acrobatically, jumping high to snaffle it one-handed at additional camouflage and then executing a roll while treating the ball with the delicacy he would a Faberge egg. Pooran had spliced his within the reduction of.  FOW 110/7

They’re checking for a neatly-organized fetch

Pooran c Buttler b Overton 38

Livingstone comes on and starts with a leg spoil to Russell who miscues a lofted off force between long off and camouflage. He will get away with that one and runs two. About a balls later he crouches in his crease, pulls his front leg into the onside and flays a force out of the bottom, over the roof and away, as Bob Mortimer would say. But then Livingstone laughs closing and loudest … 

Russell c Mousley b Livingstone 30 Off walks Dre along with his peroxide Mohawk, having hit the ball out of the bottom the ball sooner than he slices a force straight to the camouflage sweeper and drops to his knees. FOW 108/6

Sam Curran comes on to absorb the slack left by Topley’s shatter. Here’s a take a look at of nerve and technique. He starts with two cutters, wide of off stump nevertheless no longer too wide, that amble within the ebook as dots. Pooran cuts the next one on a an analogous trajectory for two to backward point who fields on the scoot.

Pooran opens the face to force for a single to the an analogous fielder and Russell wipes the sweat from his foreheadsooner than taking guard with two balls to amble. Mid-off up. Currran surprises him with the bouncer, very discontinuance to the batsman, and Russell geese it impulsively. The final ball is a legside yorker and Russell performs the Sciver Harrow force by his legs, AKA ‘the Natmeg’ for a single to elevate up the hundred.

Matthew Pepper, on as a sub for Reece Topley, backpedals at mid-on and dives to try to fetch Russell’s clothed hoick one-handed nevertheless will get all of it wring, great to Rashid’s disgust, And then to add insult to shatter, or vice versa, Russell blasts the leg-spinner for two sixes with sheer, brute force, toeing each and every high into the onside stands. No center, no inconvenience. No justice either.

Confirmation that Reece Topley jarred his factual knee the ball sooner than the rain spoil; he bowled one ball after, then went off. Topley is no longer going to return to self-discipline for our bowling innings. More shatter woe for the left-armer.

Russell, having began with exaggerated dutifulness and restraint, flicks the switch, swivels and clobbers a support of a dimension transport from Overton over sq. leg for six! Till that point and, certainly, after it, Overton bowled neatly, giving up singles nevertheless nothing for these two flashing bladesmen to enjoy. 

Time for drinks. 

I own mentioned it sooner than and will say it again. Rashid is a diamond. In opposition to about a of the most audacious and most prosperous franchise hitters within the game, he has 2-0-6-2. And mute he can’t ranking an IPL contract. 

Dre Russell has the most ridiculous pads on. Esteem stout shinpads.  

Rutherford c Buttler b Rashid 2 Blimey! A dazzling one-handed rob by Buttler to his left at dawdle as Rutherford within the reduction of the leg-spoil and ended up top edging it. He doesn’t need the gloves. That became once as comely a dawdle fetch as you may well search for. Turn and jump for Rashid as he varies his pace. FOW 68/5

What a rob from Jos Buttler first and vital dawdle – the ball looked neatly on the support of him when he plucked it out. England are neatly on top, though they now own Andre Russell to contend with.

Mousley comes on along with his busy off-breaks. In he bustles, serves up a low burly toss first up and Pooran collars it witheringly, hammering it over midwicket for a immense six. But Mousley is an efficient bowler when he lands it and will get out of the relaxation of the over with four dot balls and a single. 

Reece Topley became once clearly distraught after hobbling off after managing honest one ball after the restart, which Rovman Powell launched for six. Appears to be like to be savor his factual knee is injured – but one other shatter for him. Topley became once viewed throwing a chair in frustration within the dressing room.

Time for Rashid who has taken Pooran’s wicket four occasions in white-ball games. But he takes Powell’s for the third time as an different for starters. 

Powell c Overton b Rashid 18 Dazzling work by Overton, so stout he’s on stilts, at long-on to fetch a slogged force above his head off the toe of his bat. Rashid strikes again! FOW 59/4

Saqib has a third over, drops brief at its initiating and Pooran smacks a pull for six over mid-on. The next ball nips support on and hits the left-hander on the top of the left thigh as he swings and misses. Too high and pitched initiating air leg, I deem, and they lunge a leg-bye. Pooran opens the face on a force to steer four on the support of point and then climbs into one other pull, carting it over midwicket for one other six!

We resume with Topley fut to continue after a 32 minute spoil and Powell pumps his first ball support over his head for four. No he isn’t match to elevate on and, when the great injured left-arm seamer walks off the self-discipline, he picks up a picnic chair and hurls it in frustration. 

So Overton will complete the over and does so with two dot balls. 

Appears to be like to be savor the moist outfield has been defiled by the tractors with about a of the turf churned up and the irregular divot gouged out.

No overs lost. Some sand being applied to the cultured leg home – where it became once raining particularly heavily. 

And the groundstaff are dragging the rope around the outfield between two mini-tractors. 

Extremely localised shower at Kensington Oval: it became once raining heavily on heart-broken Adil Rashid at aesthetic leg, while most the relaxation of the fielders were aesthetic. But, worryingly, Reece Topley slipped in his transport dawdle bowling the closing ball sooner than the rain: he’s now strolling off gingerly. Don’t request these showers to closing even though the day gone by there were brutal storms in Barbados. That apart, up to now so comely for Jos Buttler in his unique position fielding at mid off, making it great simpler for him to chat to bowlers sooner than the originate of every and every over. Now not that Saqib Mahmood, who has bowled hasty and burly while generating inswing, has mandatory great recommendation: he’s taken 3-12, together with a peach of a transport that left Shimron Hetmyer first ball.

Powell performs a streaky nevertheless efficient waft down by third man for four, the ball flying off the brink for four. Topley slips and falls heavily when turning within the third ball of the over, dragging it down and banging his knee heavily and presumably twisting his ankle, too. Powell tucks in and collars the brief ball for six, this spoil day the top edge on the support of sq. leg. The rain thickens and off the gamers amble for a spell. Expectantly Topley will almost definitely be OK nevertheless he is shaking his head as he walks off…

Rains stops play.

Wonderful from Saqib who has bowled superbly, genuine line and dimension, giving the batsmen no room. Powell sees off the unique ball with a drilled force to camouflage who stops the flee nevertheless when he squeezes a single to point he affords Pooran the strike and he flips the closing ball of the over off center on the support of sq. for four as it starts to rain.

Hetmyer c Salt b Mahmood 0 Nicks off first ball and Saqib is on a hat-trick after nibbling the ball a ways from the left-hander! A comeback to fail to be mindful for Shimron! FOW 18/3

Lewis c Bethell b Mahmood 13  England burned a overview the outdated ball and West Indies burgled a leg-bye nevertheless Mahmood is no longer to be denied and bags the opener next ball when he flicks a wobbling, support-of a dimension transport to deep backward sq.. Too straight to play the gather shot.  FOW 18/2

Certainly. Pitched initiating air leg. Factual name by the umpire. 

Pooran lbw b Mahmood  Pitched initiating air leg? 

Pooran also makes use of his feet to Topley nevertheless again, savor King, is followed by the bowler and puny. No flee. He takes on the leisurely bouncer, a cutter I deem, and gloves it loopily over Salt’s outstretched factual arm for a single. Topley cramps Lewis next ball too nevertheless the closing ball is biffed by mid-on for four. Stand and convey!

Saqib goes burly, also having a ogle for swing and warding off the brief, sq. boundaries nevertheless he overdoes it and Lewis creams an off-force for four, He drives the second transport, too, nevertheless only for a single and King follows that by shovelling a shorter ball by midwicket. Didn’t in actuality stand up on this passe pitch.

Some gentle form for Saqib, Lewis waits and works it by midwicket with a stirring motion of the bottom hand. And then, after king’s hundred the opposite day, he chips straight to Overton and walks away with ninety 9 fewer runs than Wednesday’s haul.

King c Overton b Mahmood 3 Spoons a force to brief camouflage after backing away to leg. The ball got here off the bat elevated up than he anticipated as Saqib Mahmood followed him a puny bit. FOW 11/1

King drives the vital ball, neatly pitched up and having a ogle for swing, nevertheless can not pierce camouflage nevertheless will get weaving next ball with a leg ogle for a single. Lewis, the left-hander, swivel pulls for a single and then King performs tip and flee honest previous the bowler. Swirling wind from the factual-hander’s offside from this cease. Lewis ends the over with a fourth single off it, nudged flippantly into the onside. 

Brief sq. boundary and explosive batsmen. Now not one that you just may put your hand up for. 

Factual afternoon from Barbados – cracking environment for the vital sport of the T20 series, which feels great extra of an occasion than the ODIs. Jos Buttler is certainly taking up a brand unique position as number three, nevertheless he’ll first lead England within the self-discipline, with Phil Salt taking the gloves. The toss is customarily most important at Kensington Oval; England will hope that is honest today, too.

West Indies  Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Nicholas Pooran (wk), 4 Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell (capt), Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Andre Russell, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph.

England Phil Salt (wk), Will Jacks, Jos Buttler (capt), Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Sam Curran, Dan Mousley, Jamie Overton, Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid, Reece Topley.

And out West Indies in to bat.

Jos Buttler is hoping to exploit the day gone by’s rain and feels fully happy chasing, too. No Jofra Archer today. 

Factual evening and welcome to dwell coverage of the vital of 5 Twenty20 internationals between West Indies and England, following on from the touring aspect’s 2-1 defeat within the ODI series this week. Jos Buttler returns to lead the aspect that beat the hosts within the T20 World Cup in June sooner than losing their title within the semi-final defeat by India, which became once the closing time Buttler performed. Having recovered from the calf shatter that has worth him 5 months of white-ball cricket, Buttler takes over a squad that Phil Salt skippered to a 1-1 blueprint with Australia in September and cedes the gloves to his deputy, relieving him of the difficulty of captaining an attack in transition from on the support of the stumps.

As ever in international cricket on the present time, we’re none too a ways a ways from one other World Cup, this one in India and Sri Lanka in February 2026 and either aspect own already qualified by virtue of their performances within the closing tournament while Pakistan, Contemporary Zealand, Ireland and Zimbabwe mute own to ebook their areas. England own won 17 and lost 13 of their accomplished T20 fits within the Caribbean against all-comers, 9 victories and 10 defeats in fits versus West Indies.

In their closing match on this harmful Bridgetown sq. closing December, Salt and Buttler out on 77 off 37 balls for the vital wicket, Alzarri Joseph, suspended today for his strop within the closing ODI, took three for 54, Dre Russ three for 19 and an unbeaten 29 to rob them home by four wickets with 11 balls to spare. One crumb of consolation that day became once the performance of every and every leggies – Adil Rashid taking two for 25 and Rehan Ahmed three for 39. Both are within the squad, as neatly as a third leg-spinner, Rashid’s Yorkshire colleague Jafer Chohan. Whereas they won’t opt all three, it’s dazzling obvious what their considering is as they produce towards that next World Cup alternatively it’s the batting where the supreme holes are and Will Jacks, Jacob Bethell, Jordan Cox and Dan Mousley now need to press their case with runs as neatly as promise.