England set a new T20I record against the West Indies, thanks to Phil Salt’s second consecutive century, and won by 75 runs in Trinidad.
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Phil Salt smashes 119 off 57 balls as England set a record T20I total of 267-3 after being put in to bat in Trinidad; Jos Buttler (55) and Liam Livingstone both strike half-centuries for the tourists; West Indies all out for 192 in response, leveling the series at 2-2 ahead of Thursday’s decider.
Phil Salt set new records in a spectacular hitting show
Salt continued where he left off on Saturday, striking debutant fast bowler Matthew Forde for a six and a four in the first over after his magnificent unbeaten 109 had helped England chase down 223 to win in Grenada.
Buttler and Salt pairs for a spectacular set of Sixes
Buttler, who had also contributed a half-century the last time out, took a little longer to get going, taking nine deliveries to score his first boundary before a well-timed reverse sweep for six signified he had found his stride.
The pair kept having fun, with Salt hitting two more sixes from a 22-run Forde over as England reached 68-0 at the end of the six-over power play, possibly leaving West Indies captain Rovman Powell wondering about his decision to bat after winning the toss.
Salt achieved his half-century off 23 balls in the eighth over, while Buttler reached the milestone off 26 deliveries two overs later.
The hosts finally got through when Jason Holder was caught at long-on by Powell, but with England on 117-1 after 10 overs, the stage was set.
Salt showed no signs of slowing down
By striking each of the first three balls of the game, Salt swiftly demolished any notion that the wicket may slow England down.
The 27-year-old’s final score of 119 was the highest by an England men’s batter in a T20I, and he also became only the second full-member nation player to achieve hundreds in consecutive T20Is.
“I’m definitely enjoying it ”, says Phil Salt ecstatically
Phil says that it is a fun place to visit and play cricket.
The players have performed admirably in the last several games, and we now have a decider to look forward to.
He also says that it’s quite rewarding. The changes he has made to my game in the previous six months have been more about his mental approach and point of view than anything else. So it’s fantastic that he is starting to reap the benefits now.
Salt, Player of the Match
Salt was named Player of the Match for his performance. England’s victory in the fourth T20 tied the series (2-2), setting up an exciting series decider on the twenty-first of December at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad.
