England 304 for 2 (Salt 141*, Buttler 83) beat South Africa 158 (Markram 41, Archer 3-25) by 146 runs
England turned Emirates Old Trafford into their personal playground, smashing their way to 304 for 2, the highest total in their T20I history and the third-highest globally. Phil Salt was the epicentre of the carnage, blasting an unbeaten 141 off 60 balls — his fourth T20I century and the fastest ever by an Englishman, reaching three figures in just 39 balls.
It was a record-breaking night that left South Africa battered and bewildered, as England levelled the three-match series 1-1 in emphatic fashion. The decider on Sunday now looms large, but South Africa will need a dramatic turnaround to recover from a thrashing of this magnitude.
Boundary Blitz: 75% of Runs in Fours and Sixes
On a flat batting surface, England unleashed a relentless assault, hitting 30 fours and 18 sixes, accounting for 228 of their 304 runs. Jos Buttler was equally destructive early on, hammering 83 off 27 balls, including a 50 off just 18 deliveries — his fastest in T20Is.
South Africa’s bowling fell apart almost immediately. Marco Jansen’s opening over went for 18 runs, setting the tone for what was to come. By the end of the Powerplay, England were already 105 without loss, and the Proteas had no answers.
Rabada, Williams, and Jansen — all returning from injuries — endured a nightmarish evening.
- Rabada: 0 for 70 (4 overs)
- Williams: 0 for 62 (4 overs)
- Jansen: 0 for 60 (4 overs)
To make matters worse, South Africa’s ill-discipline gifted England eight wides and five no-balls, effectively bowling two extra overs to a rampant batting unit.
Across their last three white-ball matches, including the third ODI and first two T20Is, South Africa have now conceded 772 runs in just 75 overs, raising serious concerns about their attack heading into the series finale.
Salt Takes Over After Buttler Blitz
While Buttler dominated the opening overs, Salt shifted gears spectacularly once the captain fell in the eighth over, sweeping Bjorn Fortuin straight to Tristan Stubbs.
From there, Salt was untouchable:
- Reached his fifty in 19 balls.
- Brought up his hundred in 39 balls, breaking his own England record.
- Became the sole holder of the top four highest T20I scores by an England batter.
Salt’s hitting was brutal yet clinical. South Africa tried everything — slower balls, yorkers, bouncers — but nothing worked. Even a spectacular relay catch by Kwena Maphaka at wide long-on turned into another six after replays showed the youngster’s heel brushing the boundary cushion.
By the halfway mark, England were 166 for 1. Salt powered on to 141*, the seventh-highest individual score in T20I history, as England closed on a staggering 304.
Archer’s Unconventional Hat-Trick of Contributions
Jofra Archer, rested for the rain-affected first T20I, returned with a statement performance. Although not a traditional hat-trick, Archer was directly involved in the first three dismissals:
- Ryan Rickelton (20) — caught brilliantly by Liam Dawson at short midwicket.
- Lhuan-dre Pretorius (2) — top-edged a slower ball to short third.
- Dewald Brevis (4) — miscued a lofted shot to mid-on, where Archer himself took the catch.
Archer later returned to dismiss Jansen and also held on to two more catches in the deep, capping a dominant all-round display.
Curran and Jacks Clean Up the Rest
Sam Curran showcased his trademark “moon-ball” variations, mixing up pace and flight beautifully. He removed Brevis and Donovan Ferreira with clever changes of speed, finishing with 2 for 11 from two overs at an economy of just 5.50.
Will Jacks chipped in with a remarkable 2 for 1 in his only over, underlining England’s stranglehold over the game. South Africa’s chase collapsed from 50 for 0 in 3.3 overs to 57 for 4 by the end of the Powerplay, effectively ending the contest.
Markram Lone Fighter in a Lost Cause
South Africa’s captain, Aiden Markram, provided brief resistance with 41 off 20 balls, his highest score in 18 innings, but lacked support. Bjorn Fortuin’s spirited 32 off 16 was the only other innings of note.
South Africa’s middle order remains a glaring concern. Without the form and firepower needed to chase down daunting targets, the Proteas were dismissed for 158 in 16.4 overs, losing by a mammoth 146 runs — their heaviest defeat in T20I history.
Series Decider Ahead
England’s record-shattering win sets up a mouthwatering finale on Sunday. For South Africa, the focus will be on regrouping their bowling attack and addressing their fragile middle order. For England, buoyed by Salt’s heroics and a complete team performance, the mission will be simple: keep the foot on the gas and secure the series.
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