‘I feel like that’s the first step in right direction’ – Phil Salt confident about England’s T20 World Cup title defence

Phil Salt. (Photo Source: Alex Davidson-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)

England made a confident start to their Super 8 campaign of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024 with a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over co-hosts West Indies on Thursday in St Lucia.

The clash at St. Lucia saw the Windies bat first after losing the toss. Openers Brandon King and Johnson Charles got them off to a solid start before Nicholas Pooran and Rovman Powell chipped in with 36 runs each. Sherfane Rutherford’s unbeaten 28 helped the Windies post 180/4.

In reply, England opener Phil Salt launched a blistering assault on the West Indies bowlers. His match-winning knock of 87* off just 47 balls put the game firmly in the Three Lion’s favor. Jonny Bairstow provided excellent support with 48* off 26 balls as England reached the target in just 17.3 overs with eight wickets to spare.

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I feel once you’re a little bit more settled, you can sort of play that role: Phil Salt

Salt was delighted with his match-winning innings and said the victory provided much-needed momentum after a shaky start to their title defense.

“I don’t know if you can compare the two but it’s definitely the first step in that direction. I’ve already said, in tournament play you need a bit of luck at the right time and you need to build your momentum and confidence and I feel like that’s the first step in the right direction,” Salt said as quoted by Cricbuzz.

The 27-year-old opener felt the extended run he has had in the England side has helped him in his free-scoring approach while coming into bat.

“It’s probably one of those things that you feel more confident to do. I feel like if you’re new to the side, you’re thinking, oh, what if I get out now? I don’t want to get out now. But I feel once you’re a little bit more settled, you can sort of play that role and sort of take the onus on your own a little bit more,” he added.

Also read: WI vs ENG, Match 42 Highlights: Unmissable video recap, turning points, match analysis, stats, and more

Salt reserved special praise for assistant coach Kieron Pollard’s special input on chasing down totals in the T20 format.

“We’ve spoken a lot about taking eights from one side to take twelves from the other and that’s 200. So, it’s really simple, it sounds so simple to say it but putting that into action there wasn’t really a point in time out there I knew I was I slowed down I knew I hadn’t got much strike but I knew that If I just get through that period, then we’re going to be in a good position and I can have a good dip, a good calculated risk at the seamers,” he concluded.