[UPDATED] Salt flavours English pot against West Indies

West Indies let a historic batting performance at the National Cricket Centre in Grenada go to waste, as England executed a record chase to win the third T20 international and stay alive in the five-match series.

Nicholas Pooran’s whirlwind knock of 82 off 45 balls led the hosts to a massive 222/6 batting first – the highest score posted at the venue, but he was overshadowed by English opener Phil Salt who blasted a masterful, unbeaten, maiden T20I century (109 not out), to guide England to a stunning 226/3, with one ball to spare.

The result saw England notch their first win in the series (2-1), and sets up an exciting remaining two matches in Trinidad, on Tuesday and Thursday.

Sent in to bat, opener Brandon King had a fiery start as he struck off-spinner Mooen Ali for back-to back fours, through backward point and mid-off, off his second and third deliveries.

King’s short fuse was soon put out by Ali, as he had his middle stump rattled, two balls later. Pooran joined Kyle Mayers at the crease but the latter did not last long, as fast bowler Reece Topley had him out for "duck" edging to captain and wicketkeeper Jos Buttler in the second over.

At this point, the hosts were a shabby 8/2 and in need of repair.

Shai Hope met Pooran in the middle and the pair brought stability and style to the innings with a 54-run partnership from 37 balls.

Hope showed early intent as he launched Ali for a maximum over long-off and then slapped him for four more next ball.

The pair took turns dominating as Pooran flicked Topley for a boundary. Pacer Gus Atkinson was brought in to switch up the English bowling attack but he was given a rude welcome as Hope lofted him for six off his first delivery. This over was the most expensive of the power play as Pooran then blasted him over mid-on for four and then swatted him for six over deep backward square.

At the end of the power play, WI were 52/2.

But the partnership was soon broken by leg-spinner Adil Rashid, who had Hope caught at deep mid-wicket by Salt.

Skipper Rovman Powell joined Pooran, and the duo were ruthless. Powell blasted three massive sixes and two boundaries in a jaw-dropping 21-ball 39.

After pulling Atkinson for two sixes, he lifted Liam Livingstone for another, while Pooran also swivelled the latter for a maximum.

The introduction of Sam Curran in the next over saw the WI skipper sky one into Buttler’s hands.

At 120/4, Guyanese Sherfane Rutherford, who replaced the dropped Shimron Hetmyer, entered, and the fireworks continued.

Rutherford launched a four and six off Mills’ first two deliveries while Pooran cracked two boundaries and a maximum in the same over as West Indies raced to 168/4.

Pooran continued his aggression by lashing Rashid for two sixes, before his impressive knock (six fours, six sixes) was ended in the same over, caught by Livingstone.

Rutherford raced to 29 from 17, courtesy two sixes and two fours, but perished after playing into Salt’s hands.

Jason Holder faced the final three balls and brought a flurry with a six, four and six off Topley.

Leading England’s bowling attack were Rashid (2/32) and Curran (2/34).

In reply, the English got the start they wanted as openers Salt and and Buttler (51) put on an emphatic display with the bat. The pair constructed a riveting 115-run partnership in under 12 overs staying in touch of the required run rate.

Buttler started strongly with consecutive sixes off spinner Akeal Hosein in the opening over. Salt got going in the next over with a six and four off Holder's medium pace.

At 55/0, after five overs, spinner Gudakesh Motie was introduced to slow England’s progress. But Powell’s decision to insert the Guyanese backfired as he was beaten for 18 runs courtesy two Salt sixes and a boundary from Buttler, which carried them to 73 without loss.

At the halfway stage, England championed their chase at 107/0. Eight balls later, West Indies made the breakthrough as Buttler was smartly caught by a combination of Hosein and Alzarri Joseph on the boundary.

Buttler’s big shot saw Hosein forced to leap beyond the boundary rope after taking the catch, before throwing the ball to a supporting Joseph who made no mistake.

New batsman Livingstone also showed intent in their chase as he flicked Holder powerfully over deep square leg for a maximum, and then Joseph, for another.

Needing 83 runs from five overs, Salt and Livingstone batted fearlessly.

Salt lashed two sixes off Joseph, a flick over square leg and one over mid-wicket, and then mercilessly hit Holder for back-to-back sixes in the next over, to reach 99. A single off the next ball saw him earn his first T20I century.

The partnership was broken next ball, as Livingstone was brilliantly caught by Powell.

New batsman Brook needed little adjustment time as he closed Holder’s over with a six down the ground off his first ball.

Needing 31 from 12 balls, ten runs came off the penultimate over by Joseph as the visitors now required 21 from six.

Andre Russell was given the responsibility with the ball but Brook took him apart.

Brook flicked for four off his first delivery, then smacked two sixes off the next two balls to put England in control. He took two runs off the fourth ball, before slashing a wide Russell delivery over third man to seal the win.

Summarised Scores: WEST INDIES 222/6 - Nicholas Pooran 82, Rovman Powell 39, Sherfane Rutherford 29, Shai Hope 26; Adil Rashid 2/32, Sam Curran 2/34 vs ENGLAND 226/3 - Phil Salt 109 not out, Jos Buttler 51, Harry Book 31 not out, Liam Livingstone 30; Gudakesh Motie 1/30.

This story was originally published with the title "Judge rules for suspended cop" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

West Indies missed the chance to clinch their five-match T20I series vs England on Saturday as they were unable to defend the highest score ever made at the National Cricket Centre in Grenada.

The visitors dug deep to pull off a seven-wicket win, to keep the series alive as it heads to Trinidad.

Batting first, the hosts put on a brazen batting display to post a mammoth 222/6. But the historic total was not good enough as a masterclass, unbeaten century from English opener Phil Salt (109 not out) led them over the line, to 226/3, with one ball to spare.

The result saw England notch their first win of the series, which now stands at 2-1, and all to play for in the final two matches on Tuesday and Thursday.

Sent in to bat, the maroon had a shabby start losing openers Brandon King (eight) and Kyle Mayers (duck) with just eight runs on the board.

But powerful middle-order knocks from Nicholas Pooran (82), skipper Rovman Powell (39), Sherfane Rutherford (29), Shai Hope (26) and a three-ball 18 from Jason Holder, redirected West Indies to their formidable total.

Spinner Adil Rashid (2/32) and pacer Sam Curran (2/34) were England’s top bowlers.

In their turn at the crease, England’s opening pair of Salt (109 from 56 balls) and captain Jos Buttler (51 from 34) set a firm foundation with the bat as they constructed a 115-run partnership in under 12 overs.

When Buttler perished, Will Jacks (one) followed soon after and West Indies seemed to regain control of the contest.

However, Liam Livingstone and Salt had other ideas and carried them to 186, before the former fell for 30 runs from 18 balls. Harry Book joined Salt in the middle and the pair were ruthless in their pursuit.

Book showed clear intent and struck a brisk 31 from seven balls to help guide England to victory in 19.5 overs.

Salt’s unbeaten century was made up of nine sixes and four fours, which earned him man of the match.

Summarised Scores: WEST INDIES 222/6 - Nicholas Pooran 82, Rovman Powell 39, Sherfane Rutherford 29, Shai Hope 26; Adil Rashid 2/32, Sam Curran 2/34 vs ENGLAND 226/3 - Phil Salt 109 not out, Jos Buttler 51, Harry Book 31 not out, Liam Livingstone 30; Gudakesh Motie 1/30.