Credit: England Cricket
England opener Phil Salt has racked up the fastest T20I century for England in the second match of the series played against South Africa in Manchester. Winning the toss, the Protea skipper Aiden Markram elected to field first. Openers Salt and Jos Buttler dismantled the visitors’ bowling unit and plundered runs at a brisk pace. Buttler departed after smashing a swift 83 off just 30 but Salt stood in the middle and hammered the bowlers ruthlessly. In the ninth over, Salt hammered a four against Lizaad Williams and completed his fifty in just 19 balls.
Jacob Bethell, who joined Phil Salt at the crease after Buttler’s dismissal, held one end and helped the opener to attack the Protea bowling attack. In the 13th over, Salt brought his fourth T20I century in just 39 balls and became the English batter with the fastest hundred in the format. After erecting a 127-run opening stand with Buttler off just 47 balls, Salt built a 96-run partnership with Jacob Bethell off just 38 balls for the second wicket. Left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin picked up Bethell and picked up his second wicket in the match. Salt stood at the crease until the end and concluded his innings at an unbeaten 141 off just 60. With his extraordinary innings, Salt also broke into the record books as the highest individual scorer for England in the shortest form of the sport.
England register highest T20I team total among full-member teams
Riding on the sensational batting show, England posted a colossal total of 304/2 in their 20 overs. They became the first team to cross the 300-run mark in the shortest form of the sport. Among full-member sides, England also became the team with the highest T20I score. They shattered India’s record 297/6 which came against Bangladesh in the T20I played in Hyderabad in October 2024.
The three-match series is now level with a 1-1 margin as South Africa capitulated at a score of 158 in 16.1 overs while chasing the mammoth total. Salt became the Player of the Match (POTM) for his stunning batting display. The final game of the tournament will be played in Nottingham on September 14.
