Jonny Bairstow and Tom Curran starred as England notched up a comprehensive four-wicket win over West Indies in the first T20 between the two sides at Gros Islet.
Bairstow smashed a 40-ball 68 while Curran returned with figures of 4-36 as the tourists grabbed a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Chasing 161 for victory, England’s openers Alex Hales and Bairstow made an explosive start with the former striking a boundary and a six off the first four deliveries he faced.
Windies pacer Shane Cottrell ended Hales’ brief cameo before dismissing Joe Root for a duck. However, Bairstow was in belligerent mood and continued to go on the offensive. The England opener was given a couple of reprieves and he made the hosts pay with some astonishing hitting at Gros Islet.
Despite skipper Eoin Morgan falling cheaply, Bairstow kept England ahead in the chase and he found able support from all-rounder Joe Denly (30). Bairstow slammed two sixes and nine boundaries in his 40-ball stay before he was dismissed by Ashley Nurse but his whirlwind innings had paved the way for a comfortable England win.
The visitors lost two late wickets in the form of Denly and Sam Billings but ultimately crossed the finish line with seven balls to spare.
Having been made to bat first earlier, West Indies suffered a top-order stumble before a fighting half-century from Nicholas Pooran helped them post 160-8 in their 20 overs.
Four wickets including that of Gayle for Tom Curran.
Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer were dismissed early into the innings by Curran with the England pacer making an excellent start with the new ball.
At the other end, Chris Gayle looked to be continuing his ominous form from the ODI series with two early sixes but the veteran’s stay at the crease was cut short on 15 by Chris Jordan.
From 37-3, the hosts recovered through a 68-run stand between Pooran and Darren Bravo before the latter was caught off his own bowling by Jordan.
Pooran continued to soldier on with the Windies batsman bringing up a half-century off 32 balls but wickets continued to tumble at the other end. The 23-year-old struck four sixes and three boundaries in his 58-run knock before he became Curran’s third dismissal.
BRIEF SCORES
West Indies: 160-8
Nicholas Pooras: 58 (37)
Tom Curran: 4-36
England: 161-6
Jonny Biarstow: 68 (40)
Shane Cottrell: 3-29
