England Smash Records to Level T20I Series Against South Africa

England Smash Records to Level T20I Series Against South Africa

England rewrote the record books in emphatic fashion as they thrashed South Africa by 146 runs in the second T20I at Old Trafford, Manchester, to level the three-match series 1-1. In a night of explosive batting, Phil Salt’s unbeaten 141 off 60 balls powered England to a world-record total of 304/2, the highest-ever T20I total against a full-member nation.

Salt's innings – laced with 15 fours and 8 sixes – also became the highest individual T20I score by an England batter. He was ably supported by skipper Jos Buttler, who set the tone early with a 30-ball 83 in a whirlwind opening partnership.

From the very first delivery, England signaled their aggressive intent. Salt opened the scoring with a boundary over backward point and followed it up by punishing Marco Jansen in the first over. Buttler, cautious early on, exploded in the fourth over against Lizaad Williams with back-to-back sixes and two fours. The carnage continued as England brought up 100 in just 5.5 overs — the second-fastest team hundred in T20Is against a full-member side.

Buttler stormed to a half-century in just 18 balls and racked up 76 runs from his last 23 deliveries before being dismissed. Salt took over seamlessly, bringing up his fifty in 19 balls before racing to a century off just 39 deliveries — the fastest T20I hundred by an Englishman.

Despite a brief slowdown after the dismissal of Jacob Bethell (26 off 14), England kept up the scoring rate. Harry Brook and Salt combined to hammer 20 off the final over, aided by two more no-balls from Kagiso Rabada, to cross the historic 300-run mark.

In response, South Africa made a brisk start with Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton adding 50 in just 3.4 overs. However, Jofra Archer and Sam Curran derailed the chase with crucial strikes. Archer removed both Rickelton and Lhuan-dre Pretorius in a single over, while Curran dismissed the dangerous Dewald Brevis soon after.

Markram (41 off 20) fought valiantly but holed out to long-off, and the South African innings unraveled quickly. Donovan Ferreira briefly revived hopes with 20 off Adil Rashid, but the lower order collapsed under relentless pressure. Fortuin offered resistance with a 32 off 16, but his dismissal triggered the final collapse as England bowled South Africa out for 158 in 16.1 overs.

Jofra Archer was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3/25, while Curran chipped in with 2/11. The 146-run win is England’s biggest margin of victory in T20Is and capped off a dominant performance with bat and ball.

Brief Scores:

  • England 304/2 in 20 overs (Phil Salt 141*, Jos Buttler 83; Bjorn Fortuin 2/52)

  • South Africa 158 in 16.1 overs (Aiden Markram 41, Bjorn Fortuin 32; Jofra Archer 3/25, Sam Curran 2/11)

England won by 146 runs. Series level 1-1.