MANCHESTER — Phil Salt bludgeoned a breathtaking century, the fastest ever for England in men's T20 internationals, on a record-shattering evening at a raucous Old Trafford, powering his side to a series-levelling 146-run victory over South Africa. The emphatic win sets up a tantalising decider at the Ageas Bowl on Sunday.
Salt’s magnificent 101 from just 47 balls, featuring eight fours and seven sixes, was the centerpiece of a brutal England batting display that saw them post a colossal 234 for 6, their highest-ever T20 total against the Proteas. The visitors, shell-shocked by the onslaught, were then routed for just 89 in 11.5 overs, handing England their largest margin of victory in terms of runs in the format.
A Record-Breaking Onslaught
The foundation for the carnage was laid by Salt and Jos Buttler, who put on a blistering 82-run partnership in the powerplay. But it was after the departure of his captain that Salt truly unleashed, taking a particular liking to the bowling of Lungi Ngidi and Tabraiz Shamsi. The innings was a masterclass in clean hitting, with Salt depositing the ball repeatedly into the stands with astonishing power and precision. He brought up his maiden T20I century in stunning fashion, needing just 47 deliveries to etch his name into the history books.
Reflecting on his whirlwind knock, Salt said, "It's a pretty special feeling. The crowd was amazing tonight and to do it here at Old Trafford is something I'll never forget. I just tried to keep it simple, watch the ball, and hit it hard. Everything seemed to click into place."
England's Batting Fireworks
Salt was not alone in the demolition job. Jonny Bairstow provided a devastating late cameo, smashing an unbeaten 17-ball 38, while Liam Livingstone chipped in with a rapid 11-ball 20. The South African bowling attack, so disciplined in the previous match, had no answers on a true batting surface and a fast outfield. Key stats from England's innings include:
- Highest T20I total vs South Africa: 234/6
- Fastest England men's T20I century: 47 balls
- 17 sixes hit by the England team
The total always looked imposing, and it quickly became insurmountable as the England bowlers, fired up by the electric atmosphere, ran riot.
Proteas Collapse Under Pressure
The South African reply never got going. Reeza Hendricks fell to the very first ball of the chase, bowled by Richard Gleeson, and the wickets tumbled in a heap from there. Gleeson and Moeen Ali were the chief destroyers, each taking three wickets as the Proteas slumped to 87 for 8 before the tail offered minimal resistance. The comprehensive nature of the collapse was summarised by captain Jos Buttler:
"That was a complete performance. The way the guys came out with the bat set the tone. Salty was incredible, and then the bowlers were just ruthless. We knew we had to put in a performance like that to stay in the series, and we've done exactly that."
Series Perfectly Poised for Finale
This monumental victory means the four-match series is now perfectly poised at 1-1, with everything to play for in the final match in Southampton. The momentum is firmly with the reigning world champions, who have demonstrated the terrifying depth of their batting power. For South Africa, it is a case of regrouping quickly and finding a way to counter the aggressive intent that England displayed in Manchester.
South African captain David Miller was left to rue a difficult night, stating, "We were outplayed in all three departments tonight. It's one of those games you have to just wipe clean and move on. We've shown we can beat them, and we'll need to bring that belief back for the last game."
The record-breaking night at a packed Old Trafford will be remembered for Phil Salt’s coming-of-age innings, a brutal announcement of his talents on the international stage. It has not only kept England alive in the series but has sent a powerful message to the cricketing world about their formidable white-ball capabilities as they continue to build towards the T20 World Cup defence later this year.