Phil Salt’s blazing century powers England to record win

At Old Trafford in Manchester, England’s batters tore apart South Africa’s pace attack in a T20 clash. Phil Salt and Jos Buttler’s explosive batting left bowlers like Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen helpless, as England piled up 304 runs before sealing a thumping 146-run victory over the Proteas.

South Africa’s spearheads Jansen and Rabada endured a nightmare. Between them, they bowled 8 overs—Jansen conceding 60 runs, while Rabada was hammered for 70 in his four overs. Their struggles summed up a miserable outing for the Protea bowlers.

England’s openers got off to a flying start, smashing 100 runs inside the first 6 overs. Salt (33) and Buttler (66) dismantled the bowling attack, with Buttler reaching his fifty off just 18 balls, striking 6 fours and 4 sixes. Salt too raced to a half-century off 19 balls with 7 fours and 3 sixes.

The carnage continued until Buttler departed for 83 off 30 balls (8 sixes, 8 fours) with the team score at 126. His innings, however, had already set a daunting platform for England.

Salt then partnered with Jacob Bethell to add 95 runs for the second wicket. Salt reached his century off just 39 balls, hitting 13 fours and 5 sixes, while the pair pushed England to a world-record 166 in the first 10 overs.

Unstoppable, Salt carried his bat to register England’s first-ever 300-plus total in T20 internationals. Captain Harry Brook added 41 off 21, while Salt finished unbeaten on 141 off 60 balls, striking 15 fours and 8 sixes.

For South Africa, the bowling figures told the story: Jansen (0/60), Rabada (0/70), Lizaad Williams (0/62 in 3 overs), while Bjorn Fortuin claimed 2 wickets for 42.

Chasing 305, the Proteas started brightly with openers Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton adding 50 runs in just 21 balls. But once Rickelton fell, the innings unraveled. Markram’s 41 was the top score as wickets tumbled regularly. England’s bowlers, led by Jofra Archer (3 wickets), and supported by Sam Curran, Will Jacks, and Liam Dawson (2 wickets each), skittled South Africa out for 158 in 16.1 overs.

England completed a historic 146-run win in this record-breaking match, with Phil Salt rightly adjudged Player of the Match for his sensational innings.