Salt ton sees records tumble as England thrash South Africa to level T20 series

MANCHESTER: 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