Depleted England topple West Indies

Jonny Bairstow has stepped up to guide a depleted England to a four-wicket victory over the West Indies in the first Twenty20 international in St Lucia.

England excused four of their first-choice team after the drawn ODI series - Jos Buttler, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali all watching from home - but Bairstow plugged a big gap in the batting line-up with a career-best 68 from 40 balls.

Opening the batting for the first time in 28 matches, he broke the back of a 161-run target, which owed much to Tom Curran's 4-36 and Adil Rashid's miserly return of 1-15.

Rashid was the man singled out for special praise by England captain Eoin Morgan.

"I thought the bowlers were magnificent," he told Sky Sports.

"It was a fine spell from Adil Rashid; Chris Jordan came back in and bowled well and Tom Curran got four wickets but I though Rashid bowled really well."

"Adil's proven over the last four years he's got the ability to come on at any stage and threaten both sides of the bat.

"His variations are getting better, he's getting more confidence to bowl them and he's a big asset for us."

The West Indies posted 8-160 with Nicholas Pooran's 58 the top score.

The total was never enough as the tourists chased down the total with seven balls to spare, aided by some poor bowling and fielding from West Indies, who dropped four catches.

"The wicket was a little two-paced, I thought 160 wasn't a bad score but we didn't help ourselves in he field, we had too many extras and missed lots of chances," Windies captain Jason Holder said.

"But I'd back the boys to come back strong in the next game."

England, who lost the three-match test series 2-1 in the Caribbean and drew a five-match ODI series 2-2, will look to wrap up a series win in St Kitts and Nevis on Friday.