Manchester [UK], September 13 (ANI): England stormed again in type to degree the three-match T20I sequence in opposition to South Africa, posting a mammoth 304/2 in 20 overs earlier than skittling the guests for simply 158 in 16.1 overs. The hosts received by a file 146 runs, their largest victory margin in T20Is, and arrange a decider in Nottingham on Sunday.
The star of the present was opener Phil Salt, who smashed an unbeaten 141 off simply 60 balls. His blazing century got here in solely 39 balls, making it the quickest by an England batter in T20Is, breaking Liam Livingstone’s 42-ball effort in opposition to Pakistan in 2021. Salt’s knock, adorned with fifteen boundaries and eight sixes, additionally took him to his fourth T20I century in simply 42 innings. He turned the quickest to succeed in 4 a whole lot within the format, going previous Suryakumar Yadav who achieved the feat in 57 innings. Most T20I a whole lot are scored by Glenn Maxwell and Rohit Sharma with 5 every, adopted by Suryakumar and Salt on 4 apiece.
Salt’s 141 not out stays the very best rating for an English batter on this format, surpassing his personal 119 in opposition to the West Indies in Tarouba.
England’s dominance with the bat noticed them shatter a number of data. Their 304/2 was their highest ever complete in T20 internationals, surpassing the 267/3 in opposition to West Indies in Tarouba in 2023, and likewise marked their first time breaching the 300-run barrier within the format. It was the third-highest complete in T20I historical past, behind Zimbabwe’s 344/4 in opposition to Gambia in 2024 and Nepal’s 314/3 in opposition to Mongolia in 2023. This was solely the second occasion of a Check-playing nation crossing 300.
England’s 304/2 now stands on the high, eclipsing India’s 297/6 in opposition to Bangladesh in Hyderabad in 2024 and 283/1 in opposition to South Africa in Johannesburg the identical 12 months.
The assault started proper from the beginning, as England raced to 50 in simply 3.2 overs, their quickest ever when batting first. They reached 100 in 5.5 overs, the second quickest in opposition to a full-member group, solely behind West Indies who conceded 100 in 5.3 overs to South Africa in 2023. On the midway stage, England have been 166/1, the very best ever complete after ten overs in a T20I. They went previous 200 in simply 12.1 overs, the quickest ever within the format, surpassing Zimbabwe’s 12.5 overs in opposition to Gambia in Nairobi final 12 months. England’s innings included 48 boundaries, 30 fours and 18 sixes, the second most ever in a T20I behind Zimbabwe’s 57 in that very same match in opposition to Gambia.
Captain Jos Buttler performed his half with a brutal 18-ball fifty, the third-fastest for England. His opening stand with Salt produced 126 runs in simply 47 balls at a staggering run price of 16.06, making it the highest-ever scoring price for a 100-plus opening partnership by a full-member facet. It was additionally their fourth century stand in solely 17 innings collectively, the joint second most for any opening pair, solely behind Pakistan’s Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.
South Africa, left with an inconceivable chase of 305, by no means seemed within the contest and folded for 158 in 16.1 overs. The margin of defeat was 146 runs, which was their heaviest ever in T20Is, going previous the 135-run loss to India in Johannesburg in 2024. For England, it was additionally a file, their largest win by runs, surpassing the 137-run thrashing of West Indies at Basseterre in 2019.
The highest scorer in South Africa’s chase was Aiden Markram, who scored 41. Jofra Archer was the highest bowler for England with 3/25.
For South Africa, all of the bowlers have been hammered; Bjorn Fortuin was the only wicket taker for the Proteas with 2/52.
With the sequence now tied at 1-1, Nottingham will host the decider on Sunday. (ANI)
