ENG vs WI, third T20I: Salt serves up century as England wins to maintain West Indies collection alive

England saved its five-match Twenty20 collection within the West Indies alive after profitable the third sport by seven wickets with a ball to spare because of Phil Salt’s unbeaten 109 in a mammoth run chase in St George’s, Grenada, on Saturday.

Put in to bat by England skipper Jos Buttler, the house facet posted 222-6 on the again of Nicholas Pooran’s 82 off 45 deliveries.

Chasing a report T20I rating on the National Cricket Stadium, Salt went all weapons blazing with 9 sixes and 4 boundaries, constructing a 115-run opening stand with Buttler (51) earlier than Harry Brook (31 off seven) completed issues off in model with a six.

West Indies is now 2-1 up within the collection with two matches left to play.

“Great to keep the series alive, a fantastic win. Any time you chase 220 is a fantastic innings – credit to Phil Salt,” Buttler mentioned.

“Phil Salt has such great intent from ball one. It’s something we’ve asked him to do, but for him to go on and stay in the game a bit longer, it can surprise you how much he can do in the end.”

The opening pair had regarded properly set to information England residence earlier than Buttler was caught within the deep quickly after he had introduced up his half-century, because of some sensible staff work for a relay catch.

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Akeal Hosein caught Buttler’s prime edge off Andre Russell close to the rope and simply as his momentum threatened to take him over, he tossed the ball to Alzarri Joseph who accomplished the catch.

Will Jacks returned to the pavilion with out troubling the scorers whereas Gudakesh Motie as soon as once more put the brakes on England’s scoring fee with 1-30 in 4 overs, leaving the vacationers to chase 83 within the ultimate 5 overs.

But Liam Livingstone offered some impetus with fireworks of his personal whereas Salt introduced up his century in 51 balls — changing into solely the fifth Englishman to attain a T20 worldwide ton — to provide England hope.

When Livingstone (30 off 18) departed, Harry Brook got here in and smashed 4 sixes, which included three within the ultimate over from Andre Russell once they wanted 21 to win.

Earlier within the first innings, England had the perfect begin when Brandon King, the Caribbean facet’s hero from the final sport, fell for simply eight runs whereas his opening associate Kyle Mayers was dismissed for a duck.

But Pooran was within the temper for a giant rating and the wicketkeeper-batter cleared the ropes six occasions to go together with his six boundaries, ably supported by skipper Rovman Powell (39) who hit three sixes.