GRAEME Swann revelled in a "dream start" as England captain as his side hammered the West Indies by 10 wickets in the first of two Twenty20 clashes at The Oval.

Ravi Bopara took four for 10 to help bowl out the visitors for 125 and Alex Hales (62 not out) and Craig Kieswetter (58no) knocked off the required runs in 15.2 overs.

Swann, deputising for the injured Stuart Broad as T20 captain, said: "I'll take that, it was a dream start as captain.

"I asked the boys to give everything and they did that, I was delighted with the way everybody performed."

After Dwayne Smith hit 33 from 21 balls to give the Windies a racing start, Samit Patel produced extravagant turn to dismiss him in the final powerpay over and Bopara - and an excellent team fielding display - then took the spotlight.

"I was thinking 'what's the world record for a Twenty20 score?'," Swann admitted. "It's natural to fear the worst but the guys didn't panic, they've been brought up on Twenty20 cricket.

"The fielding is a huge part of that, that's going to lift us.

"I was pleased with Samit, he got a vital wicket to set the platform for Ravi and Jade Dernbach at the death - I though he was exceptional again.

"Ravi has been getting me out in the nets for two years, ’I've been telling everyone he should bowl more."

The young opening pair then stepped up with the bat against an indisciplined West Indian bowling display and Swann had particular praise for county team-mate Hales.

"Kies has shown what he can do before and it was important for Hales, I've seen him do that all the time at Notts. The first thing he said was 'that's improved my average a little bit'."