England thrash West Indies by 8 Wickets in T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8
England thrashed West Indies in a one-sided contest at Gros Islet, securing a convincing 8-wicket victory in T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8. This win puts England in a strong position to qualify for the knockout stages.
West Indies started well with Brandon King and Johnson Charles putting on a 40-run opening partnership. However, King was forced to retire hurt after scoring 23 runs. Charles continued to hold the fort, scoring 38 runs, but wickets began to fall at regular intervals thereafter.
Nicholas Pooran (36) and Rovman Powell (36) tried to revive the innings with a 43-run stand for the third wicket. However, once both departed, the West Indies batting order crumbled. Sherfane Rutherford (28) tried to provide significant contribution and took the Windies to a good total of 180 runs on the board.
England’s bowling attack shared the spoils effectively, with all seven bowlers used contributing wickets. Reece Topley was economical in his opening spells, conceding just 26 runs in his three overs. Jofra Archer, Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone and Adil Rashid also chipped in with a wicket apiece.
Chasing the target of 181, England openers Phil Salt and Jos Buttler got off to a flying start. Salt, in particular, was in destructive form, smashing boundaries at will. He reached his fifty off just 27 balls and continued to dominate the West Indies bowling attack.
Buttler (25) fell victim to a Roston Chase delivery, but by then England were well on their way to victory. Jonny Bairstow (48*) provided able support to Salt, and the pair ensured there were no further hiccups in the chase. England eventually reached the target with 15 balls to spare, thanks largely to Salt’s unbeaten knock of 87 runs off just 47 deliveries.
For his match-winning performance, Phil Salt was deservedly named the Player of the Match. His aggressive batting display took the pressure off England and set them on course for a comfortable victory.
England is in group 2 with West Indies, United States of America (USA) and South Africa. This win against Windies strengthens England’s position in the T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 stage. They will be filled up with confidence heading into their next match. For West Indies, this defeat is a setback, but they still have a chance to qualify for the knockout stages. However, they will need to bounce back quickly and address their issues if they are to progress further in the tournament.
