ENG vs SA 2025 2nd T20I: England Crush South Africa as Phil Salt Leads Record 304-Run Onslaught

England levelled the series against South Africa after winning the second Twenty20 International by 146 runs at Old Trafford in Manchester on Friday, September 12. This proved to be the largest margin of victory for England in terms of runs. Additionally, they dealt South Africa their most significant run-loss.

Thanks to Phil Salt's fastest and highest Twenty20 century, it set the third-highest men's total ever. Jos Buttler's 83 and Salt's 141 not out supported England's 304-2, which featured 30 boundaries and 18 sixes. After the power play, South Africa was 64-3 and lost skipper Aiden Markram for a team-high 41 off 20 in the eighth over, but they remained determined as the outcome became certain. In the 17th over, the Proteas were all out for 158.

ENG vs SA 2025 2nd T20I Highlights:

Buttler scored 83 off just 30 balls, hitting eight fours and seven sixes, before being removed by Bjorn Fortuin in the eighth over. Salt brought up the fastest century in terms of balls faced (39), while Jacob Bethell, who had come in at number three, played second fiddle. Harry Brook, the captain of England, tossed his bat around when Bethell was dismissed for 26 off 14 balls. Brook scored 41 off 21 balls to finish undefeated. Salt, meanwhile, hit 15 fours and eight sixes in his 141 not out off 60 balls.

The crowd was back on their feet as Salt broke Livingstone's fastest record by one in 39 balls. Salt scored his fourth century for England. Only Glenn Maxwell and Rohit Sharma (five each) have more T20 hundreds than any other Englishman. Kagiso Rabada, who twice overstepped and twice bowled wide, bowled a 23-run over in which Salt reached his century. Kwena Maphaka stepped on the rope at long-on, allowing Salt to score his sixth six, and Salt managed to escape being out caught on 126, surpassing both his and England's record T20 total of 119 from December 2023.

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