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Updated 20/12/2023 at 00:27 GMT
England set up T20I series decider with the West Indies after a stunning batting display at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy. Phil Salt hit a second successive century as England scored 267, their highest innings total in T20 history. The West Indies were bowled all out for 192 in response, meaning the series is poised at 2-2 ahead of the decider at the same venue on Thursday, live on TNT Sports.
Phil Salt of England celebrates reaching his second T20i hundred during the 4th T20 International match between West Indies and England at Brian Lara Cricket Academy on December 19, 2023.
Image credit: Getty Images
Phil Salt’s second century in as many matches helped England set their best ever total in T20 cricket and beat the West Indies by 75 runs to level the series.
Salt scored 119 runs off 57 balls, which included 10 sixes, as England posted 267-3 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad and Tobago.
There were also strong performances with the bat by captain Jos Buttler (55) and Liam Livingstone (54) during as astonishing innings that is the fifth highest ever recorded in T20 internationals.
In response, the West Indies scored heavily but lost wickets at key times and were bowled all out for 192 with more than four of the 20 overs remaining.
The win is the second in succession for England and sets up a mouth-watering decider on Thursday at the same venue.
“A fantastic win,” Buttler said afterwards. “It was like being at the Hong Kong Sixes tournament wasn’t it?
“We showed so much character. Phil Salt again, to back it up with two hundred in a row is a phenomenal effort.
“I am really proud of the group to go 2-0 down and show the reaction we have. To show the bravery, courage and ultimately skill level as well to be able to execute it.
“I am delighted for the guys and it’s a really confident changing room.”
England were put in to bat first and settled immediately. Salt and Buttler formed a 117-run partnership that featured some monster hitting, including three sixes in a row from Salt’s bat.
Buttler was dismissed by Jason Holder before Will Jacks scored a blistering 24 from just nine balls.
Livingstone arrived at the crease following the dismissal of Jacks and picked up the mantle, finishing on 54 not out from 21 balls.
Salt was bowled by Andre Russell with little more than an over remaining, but the damage had already been done by the visitors.
The chase couldn’t have started any worse for the hosts as Brandon King was removed with the very first ball by Moeen Ali.
In a manic first six overs, the West Indies scored 87 runs but lost four wickets, which was the theme of the innings.
Rehan Ahmed dismissed Sherfane Rutherford and Holder with back-to-back balls as the hosts plunged to 120-7 before Russell, who top scored with 51, skied a wild swipe into the grateful hands of Harry Brook from a Reece Topley delivery to seal a much-deserved England victory.
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