Salt century fires England to T20 victory over West Indies

England's Phil Salt was delighted with his match-winning effort against the West Indies in the first match of the five-game T20 International series on Saturday.

An imperious century from Salt helped England secure an eight-wicket win over West Indies in Barbados despite skipper Jos Buttler disappointing on his return from injury.

Winning his first toss after a four-month injury absence, Buttler put the hosts in to bat first, with big-hitting lower order cameos from Gudakesh Motie and Romario Shepherd helping West Indies set an imposing 183 to win.

Salt's super unbeaten innings, which included six sixes, was backed up by Jacob Bethell's maiden T20I half-century, after Buttler had fallen for a golden duck, to see England record the highest-ever T20I run chase at Kensington Oval.

"I think this is probably the place I'm happiest. I enjoy batting here. I've grown up on these surfaces," said Salt, who lived in Barbados with his family when he was young.

"I really enjoy playing the 50-over cricket but coming out here tonight, you have to adjust quickly. It's a completely different tempo. But I'm coping all right."

With fast bowler Jofra Archer rested after playing all three of England's ODIs in the Caribbean, Saqib Mahmood came into the bowling attack and showed no signs of rust as he struck three times in four overs to leave West Indies languishing on 18-3.

The hosts continued to be ultra-aggressive, finding the boundary with regularity, but the wickets also kept on falling. When Adil Rashid had Akeal Hosein trapped leg before wicket, England were firmly in the driving seat.

A handy 49-run, ninth-wicket partnership between Shepherd and Motie, the latter smashing a thrilling 33 off 14 balls, ensured England would have to produce a Kensington Oval first to get their T20 series off to a winning start.

Salt, on the back of his slowest-ever ODI half-century in England's defeat in the one-day series decider on Wednesday, was not hanging around this time, racing to 50 from 25 balls inside the first powerplay.

Will Jacks' departure for 17 brought Buttler to the crease, but the skipper was soon heading back to the pavilion as Motie took a stunning one-handed catch on the boundary.

• Champions Trophy: UAE likely to host India matches as team will not travel to Pakistan, reports say