Phil Salt scored the highest total and fastest century by an English batsman in a T20 international as hosts England thrashed South Africa by 146 runs to tie their three-match series 1-1 on a record-breaking night at Old Trafford on Friday.
Opener Salt’s remarkable 141 not out was the foundation of England’s record 304-2.
It was the first time in a T20 international between two Test-playing nations that a side had scored 300, with India having come closest before, scoring 297-6 against Bangladesh in Hyderabad in 2024.
South Africa, confronted with a monumental chase, predictably lost early wickets and were shot out for 158 in less than 17 overs, with captain Aiden Markram’s 41 their highest score.
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Delighted Salt said on Sky Sports: “That was fantastic fun. A personal milestone but the fact we scored 300 and won by so much, I couldn’t have asked for much better.”
Only Zimbabwe with 344 against the Gambia last October and Nepal, who scored 314 playing Mongolia two years ago, have scored more at this level.
Jofra Archer bagged 3-25 from three overs after the England express pacer did not play in the Proteas’ series-opening victory in a rain-curtailed game in Cardiff on Wednesday.
Salt’s 119, which was the current England record at this level, was at the centre of his nation’s last highest T20 aggregate of 267-3 against the West Indies in Trinidad in December 2023.
The 29-year-old, looking for a golden duck in Cardiff, turned the tables in style with a dazzling 60-ball innings comprising 15 fours and eight sixes on his Lancashire home turf.
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His fourth T20 ton — no other England batsman has more than one — arrived off 39 balls.
It was also the fastest hundred in any competition by an England player, breaking Liam Livingstone’s 42-ball century in a T20 against Pakistan at Trent Bridge in 2021.
‘Phenomenal’
Salt was involved in a scorching opening stand of 126 in 7.5 overs with county teammate Jos Buttler (83) after England were asked to bat before England skipper Harry Brook added an unbeaten 41.
Record-breaking help England thrash South Africa 2025
Pretty lost for words,” replied Brook. “The way them two (Salt and Buttler) began was just phenomenal.
“Me and Jos were stood out there and said we never thought anyone get 300.”
Markram confessed things had been going against South Africa even before the first delivery, saying: “Probably started getting it wrong from the toss, so that one’s on me.”.
“Two masterclasses up front from them and when you’re put under that amount of pressure it’s tough to come back.”
The aggressive Salt struck fours off the first three balls of the match as he sliced Marco Jansen over point, before whipped the fast bowler through fine leg and driving him down the ground.
Salt then ended the over by lofting Jansen straight back over the left-armer’s head for six.
Defeated England captain Buttler was set for a breathtakingly rapid century when his 83, off only 30 balls with eight fours and seven sixes, was cut short when he pulled Fortuin to mid-on.
Recalled spinner Fortuin, who also had Jacob Bethell, was the sole successful South African bowler with 2-52 from four overs.
Salt’s two off a free hit off fast bowler Kagiso Rabada took him to a 39-ball century with 13 fours and five sixes.
The quickest century in a T20 between two Test-playing countries is David Miller’s 35-ball effort for South Africa against Bangladesh at Potchefstroom in 2017.
Rabada, one of the great bowlers of his era, gave away 70 runs in four wicketless overs on Friday.
