Morgan applauds Rashid after England take early lead against Windies

England skipper Eoin Morgan heaped praises on Adil Rashid, saying the leg-spinner did an incredible job against West Indies in the first T20I in St Lucia.

England clinched a four-wicket win after the bowlers restricted the Caribbean side on 160 for eight. Nicholas Pooran top-scored with 58 off 37 balls, but no other West Indies batsman crossed the 30-run mark.

"I thought our seam bowlers did an incredible job and were then followed up by a fine spell of bowling from Adil Rashid. Obviously, Chris Jordan came back in and bowled really well and Tom Curran ended up with four wickets but I really thought Adil did an incredible job," ICC quoted Morgan, as saying.

Rashid returned 1/15, helping England restrict the scoring rate and dismissing Carlos Brathwaite for a six-ball duck.

"I think he's (Rashid) right up there. I think he's proven over the last three or four years that he's the ability to come on at any stage of a 50-over game or a T20I game and threaten both sides of the bat, which makes it difficult."

"His variations are getting better, he's become more confident at bowling them and he really is a huge asset for us," Morgan said.

England, with a 1-0 up, will meet West Indies for the second T20I on March 8 in St Kitts to take an unassailable lead in the three-match series.