'Almost perfect' England 'set a marker' in victory

England laid down a "marker" successful their T20 World Cup defence pinch a near-perfect capacity against West Indies, says their erstwhile bowler Steven Finn.

Jos Buttler's broadside struggled done nan first group shape past week - only edging done aft a washout against Scotland and conclusion by Australia.

But they produced their champion capacity of nan tourney truthful acold to hit previously-unbeaten co-hosts West Indies successful a composed capacity reminiscent of their title triumph successful 2022.

"England turned up - nan England that everyone has enjoyed watching complete nan past fewer years," Finn told BBC Test Match Special.

Their bowlers restricted West Indies' powerful batting line-up to 180-4 connected a bully batting pitch.

Opener Phil Salt past deed 87 not retired and Jonny Bairstow an unbeaten 48 to powerfulness their broadside to triumph pinch 15 balls to spare and put them successful a beardown position to suffice for nan semi-finals from a group that includes South Africa and nan USA.

"This has been a bully opportunity for England to group a marker down for this shape of nan tournament," Finn said.

"Barring a mates overs pinch nan ball, this was almost a cleanable capacity from England.

"They batted pinch powerfulness and bowled pinch skill. They knew that erstwhile they sewage nan bat successful hand, erstwhile they sewage nan momentum, they could return advantage of it.

"Phil Salt played an outstanding and really mature innings."

Salt said England, who play South Africa adjacent connected Friday, "needed a crippled for illustration that" aft their stop-start group stage, which they would not person progressed from had Scotland beaten Australia connected Sunday.

"Tournament cricket, successful my experience, is each astir having nan assurance and momentum astatine nan aforesaid clip - and having a small spot of luck present and there," Salt, 27, said.

"If we tin conscionable support building connected that crippled by game, we’ll beryllium successful a beautiful bully spot."

Salt besides praised England's bowlers, who restricted West Indies connected a transportation wherever they scored 218-5 against Afghanistan 2 days ago.

Jofra Archer, Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid and Liam Livingstone each took a wicket each. Archer conceded only 4 runs from nan 16th over, and Rashid conscionable 2 from nan 17th.

"You don’t request maine to show you really bully they are," Salt said.

"Everybody knows that and nan impervious is successful their records - particularly Rash.

"I've played pinch him for truthful galore years now and he still doesn't get immoderate easier successful nan nets, truthful I don't cognize really nan guidance batters must consciousness against him.

"He did a hellhole of a job."