England makes history with first Test nation to score 300 in T20Is
Phil Salt hit the
highest score and quickest century by an England batsman in a T20 international
as the hosts hammered South Africa by 146 runs to level their three-match
series at 1-1 during a record-breaking evening at Old Trafford on Friday.
Opening
batsman Salt's astounding 141 not out was the cornerstone of England's mammoth
304-2.
It
was the first time in a T20 international between two Test-playing nations a
side had reached 300, with India having come closest previously, scoring 297-6
against Bangladesh in Hyderabad in 2024.
South Africa, faced with a colossal chase, unsurprisingly lost early wickets
and were dismissed for 158 in under 17 overs, with skipper Aiden Markram's 41
their top score.
An
elated Salt told Sky Sports: "That was really good fun. A personal
milestone but the fact we got 300 and won by such a big margin, I can't have
asked for much more."
Only
Zimbabwe with 344 against the Gambia in October last year and Nepal, who
amassed 314 when playing Mongolia two years ago, have made more at this level.
Jofra
Archer took 3-25 in three overs after the England express quick did not feature
in the Proteas' series-opening win in a rain-shortened match in Cardiff on
Wednesday.
Salt's
119, the existing England record at this level, had been at the heart of his
country's previous highest T20 total of 267-3 against the West Indies in
Trinidad in December 2023.
The
29-year-old, out for a golden duck in Cardiff, turned the tables in style with
a remarkable 60-ball innings featuring 15 fours and eight sixes on his
Lancashire home ground.
His
fourth T20 hundred -- no other England batsman has more than one -- came off 39
deliveries.
It
was also the quickest century in any format by an England batsman, surpassing
Liam Livingstone's 42-ball effort in a T20 against Pakistan at Trent Bridge in
2021.
Salt
shared a blistering opening partnership of 126 in a mere 7.5 overs with county
colleague Jos Buttler (83) after England were sent into bat before England
captain Harry Brook chipped in with an unbeaten 41.
"Pretty
lost for words," said Brook. "The way them two (Salt and Buttler)
started off was just phenomenal.
"Me
and Jos were stood out there and said we never thought anyone get 300."
Markram
admitted things had gone against South Africa even before the first ball,
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.
Former
England skipper Buttler was on course for a stunningly quick century when his
83, off a mere 30 balls, including eight fours and seven sixes, ended when he
holed out off Bjorn Fortuin.
Recalled
spinner Fortuin, who also dismissed Jacob Bethell, was the lone successful
South Africa bowler with 2-52 in four overs.
Salt's
two off a free hit against fast bowler Kagiso Rabada took him to a 39-ball
century including 13 fours and five sixes.
The
fastest century in a T20 featuring two Test-playing nations is David Miller's
35-ball innings for South Africa against Bangladesh at Potchefstroom in 2017.
Rabada,
one of the outstanding bowlers of his generation, conceded 70 runs in four
wicketless overs on Friday.
This
series concludes at Trent Bridge on Sunday.