England claim commanding win over West Indies in high-scoring Super Eight affair | Bat N Ball

The drama unfolded in Saint Lucia as England, the defending champions, snatched victory from the jaws of defeat against the West Indies in a thrilling ICC Men's T20 World Cup encounter. This win not only sends the co-hosts tumbling down to the bottom half of Group 2 but also exposes a potential injury concern for their explosive opener, Brandon King.

King, alongside Johnson Charles, kickstarted the Windies innings in electrifying fashion. They dominated the Powerplay, leaving the scoreboard ticking at a healthy 40/0 after just five overs. However, disaster struck as King attempted a booming drive off Sam Curran, only to succumb to a suspected groin strain and retire hurt.

Nicholas Pooran, fresh off his recent form, joined Charles. Together, they maintained the momentum, pushing the score to a decent 54 runs at the end of the Powerplay. Pooran even unleashed a monstrous six over long leg off Mark Wood, raising hopes for a massive total. However, England tightened their grip, with the Windies unable to find the boundary rope until after the drinks break. Despite the mini-drought, their first 10 overs yielded a healthy 82 runs without losing a wicket.

The shackles came off post-drinks with Charles finally breaking the boundary silence by clearing the long-on rope off Adil Rashid. But England's wait for a breakthrough wasn't long. Moeen Ali conjured a gem, dismissing the dangerous Charles for 38 off 34 runs. Captain Rovman Powell entered the scene with vengeance, smashing a maximum over Ali's head to end the 12th over.

A thrilling phase of play ensued as both Powell and Pooran found their rhythm. Just when it seemed the Windies were taking control, Liam Livingstone struck a crucial blow, dismissing Powell for 36 off just 17 balls in the 15th over. The fightback continued as Jofra Archer found the edge of Pooran's bat, sending the big-hitter back for 36 off 32. However, Sherfane Rutherford provided a late flourish with an unbeaten 28 off 15 deliveries, guiding the Windies to a respectable total of 180/4.

England, bolstered by 51 dot balls in the field, approached their chase with confidence. Openers Phil Salt and Jos Buttler got off to a flying start, smashing seven boundaries in the Powerplay, including a massive six from Salt's bat that might be a contender for the biggest of the tournament so far. England raced to 58/0 at the six-over mark, slightly ahead of the Windies' score.

The tension rose with Roston Chase breaking through for the Windies, trapping Buttler LBW for 25 off 22 balls in the eighth over. Moeen Ali, known for his unorthodox strokeplay, arrived at the crease and wasted no time, sweeping two fours in the ninth over, including a delightful reverse sweep. England found themselves at 83/1 at the halfway mark, mirroring the West Indies' score at the same stage.

Drinks seemed to favor the hosts – a short delivery first ball back from the break proved Ali's undoing as he holed out to Charles at deep midwicket. Jonny Bairstow took charge, guiding England past the 100-run mark (101/2) by the end of the 12th over. England remained neck-and-neck with the required run rate.

However, Bairstow truly turned the tide in England's favor with an onslaught of boundaries in overs 13 and 14, significantly reducing the required run rate. A hat-trick of boundaries off Akeal Hosein in the 15th over silenced the Saint Lucia crowd.

Salt, now back in the driver's seat, reached his well-deserved 50 off just 38 balls with the first four runs of the expensive 16th over. He then proceeded to dismantle Romario Shepherd's over, hammering a boundary off every single delivery for a staggering 30 runs.

With Bairstow completing a commanding innings, England sealed a convincing victory midway through the 18th over. This win not only serves as a reminder of their defending champion status but also throws Group 2 wide open, with the West Indies facing an uphill battle for qualification.