SALT AND PEPPERED

Opener takes chance to Phil his boots in rout

- MIKE WALTERS

PHIL SALT decided it was time to “pull the trigger” – and now England can come out all guns blazing against South Africa today.

With a 30-run blitz from a single Romario Shepherd over, Salt demolished co-hosts West Indies in St Lucia.

Another Super 8s win against South Africa at the same venue, or against the United States in Barbados on Sunday, will leave Jos Buttler’s men on the brink of the semi-finals less than a week after they diced with elimination.

Opener Salt’s unbeaten 87 from 47 balls catapulted the holders to an eight-wicket win with 2.3 overs to spare – and his takedown of Shepherd, as England chased 181 to win, was the moment their campaign went nuclear.