Second T20, Old Trafford
England 304-2 (20 overs): Salt 141* (60), Buttler 83 (30)
South Africa 158 (16.1 overs): Markram 41 (20); Archer 3-25
England won by 146 runs; series 1-1
Scorecard
Phil Salt achieved England’s quickest T20 hundred as the squad displayed an extraordinary 304-2 on a historic evening at Old Trafford, securing a 146-run triumph against South Africa and leveling the series.
Salt achieved his century in just 39 deliveries, surpassing Liam Livingstone’s previous record of 42 balls against Pakistan in 2021. He concluded the innings undefeated on 141 from 60 balls, exceeding Danni Wyatt-Hodge’s 124 to claim the title of highest individual score by an England batter in a T20 international.
His fourth T20 century featured 15 boundaries and eight sixes, propelling England to their highest total in the format and the highest score in a T20I between two full-member nations.
Jos Buttler contributed significantly, smashing 83 runs off 30 balls as part of a 126-run opening partnership with Salt, while Jacob Bethell (24 off 10) and captain Harry Brook provided valuable supporting scores. Brook showcased his signature boundary-tumbling style, concluding with an entertaining 41 not out (21 balls).
In response, Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton struck 50 runs off 22 deliveries, briefly quieting the Old Trafford crowd as South Africa posed a threat for an improbable chase.
However, Jofra Archer made two crucial breakthroughs in the fourth over and later secured a catch off Sam Curran’s bowling, reducing South Africa to 58-3 and significantly impacting their innings.
Archer concluded with figures of 3-25, while Curran delivered economical performance, taking 2-11. Despite Bjorn Fortuin’s late display, scoring 32 off 16 balls, it offered little consolation for the visitors, who were eventually dismissed for 158.
The series-deciding match will be held at Trent Bridge on Sunday.
Sensational Salt dismantles South African hopes
Prior to the second T20, there were worries about the weather, but instead of the anticipated rainfall, the spectators in Manchester were treated to a deluge of boundaries.
Salt, who faced disappointment with a golden duck dismissal in Cardiff on Wednesday, established the aggressive tone for the evening by scoring 18 runs in the opening over, including three consecutive boundaries to commence the innings. However, he adopted a more reserved role for the initial seven overs, allowing Buttler to dominate.
The former captain unleashed six fours and four sixes en route to an 18-ball half-century within the first five overs, treating each South African bowler with disdain. He capitalized on any short deliveries and scored effortlessly over mid-off, propelling England to 100-0 by the end of the powerplay.
He rather gave away his wicket as a century beckoned, caught sweeping by Tristan Stubbs, but it did nothing to halt England’s momentum, with Salt seizing his opportunity to steal the show.
In the eighth over, he dispatched Lizaad Williams for two fours and two sixes to bring up a half-century of his own off 19 balls before hitting a further four fours off Kwena Maphaka as England reached a record 166-1 at the halfway mark.
He ran two off Kagiso Rabada to seal his record-breaking century in 13th over, struck a further seven boundaries during the second half of his innings, and enjoyed stands of 95 (41) and 83 not out (37) with Bethell and Brook, respectively, as England refused to take their foot off the gas.
It was, admittedly, a below-par bowling performance from South Africa. Four of their six bowlers conceded more than 15 runs per over and Rabada was responsible for four of his side’s no balls. Their desperation was clear when captain Markram brought himself on to bowl the 12th over and was struck for 19.
But as poor as South Africa were, Brook was simply superb, playing a mature and chanceless innings, toying with the field in between his bludgeoned sixes and scoring all around the ground.
England impress on must-win night
There’s been a significant amount of negativity surrounding England’s white-ball performances recently, and much of it has been justified.
Their 50-over World Cup title defence culminated in a disappointing group stage exit in India in 2023, and they failed to secure a single victory at this year’s Champions Trophy, which ultimately led to Buttler’s captaincy coming to an end.
Although they reached the semi-finals of the 2024 T20 World Cup, their exit – bowled out for 103 by eventual champions India – was uninspiring.
Away from tournaments, they’ve lost five of their past six ODI series, including a 2-1 defeat against South Africa earlier this month. Their victory in Southampton came with the series already lost.
And after losing by 14 runs in Cardiff on Wednesday, albeit in a farcical rain-affected encounter, they arrived in Manchester once again in must-win territory.
England responded with style, providing plenty of cheer to warm the crowd on a chilly September evening and plenty of positives for Brendon McCullum.
Their batters, for example, dismantled what is, on paper, a high-quality bowling attack, with each member of the top four scoring valuable runs. It’s worth remembering, they also have Ben Duckett and Jamie Smith to call on.
With the ball, Archer, who missed out on Wednesday due to the wet conditions, was among the wickets, showcasing all of his variations and his faith in his body with a sharp caught and bowled. Curran, in just his second outing since his recall, bagged two of his own.
One swallow doesn’t make a summer, but here England were entertaining and undeniably brilliant.
‘Not many heights we can’t reach’ – reaction
England captain Harry Brook: “I’m pretty lost for words. The way those two started off was just phenomenal.
“Me and Jos were stood out there and said we never thought anyone would get 300. With the batting line-up we have got there are not many heights we can’t reach.”
Player of the match Phil Salt: “That was really good fun. Yeah, a personal milestone but the fact we got 300 and won by such a big margin, I can’t have asked for much more.”
South Africa captain Aiden Markram: “We 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. We’ll have to come up with some good plans and take it on again on Sunday.”
