Jos Buttler and Liam Dawson were the stars of the show as England opened their three-match T20I Series against the touring West Indies with a 21-run victory at the Riverside Ground in Chester-Le-Street on Friday.
Former captain Buttler starred with a top score of 96 to help the hosts post 188-6 from their 20 overs after skipper Harry Brook won the toss and chose to take first strike.
Buttler hit six fours and four sixes in his 59 balls, anchoring the innings brilliantly in the end.
He received good support from Jamie Smith who made 38 off 20 balls opening the batting and Jacob Bethell who finished 23* off 23 balls.
Romario Shepherd, fresh off winning the IPL title with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, took 2-33 from his full quota of four overs to lead the West Indian bowling effort.
The West Indies were then restricted to 167-9 from their 20 overs to remain winless on the tour.
Evin Lewis was the team’s highest scorer with 39 off 23 balls at the top of the order while a number of other batsmen were unable to capitalize on starts.
Roston Chase made 24 off 20 balls while Johnson Charles, Andre Russell, Rovman Powell, Jason Holder and Shepherd all scored in the teens.
At the halfway point, the West Indies were in a good position at 91-3 before three quick wickets left the team 115-6 with two balls left in the 14th over, putting the game pretty much out of reach.
Liam Dawson was brilliant with his left-arm spin, picking up 4-20 from his four overs while Bethell and debutant Matthew Potts picked up two wickets, each.
The second T20I is set for Sunday in Bristol.