Manchester, September 13(HS): In a historic second T20 international match played at Old Trafford, Manchester, England etched their name in cricketing history by becoming the first full-member nation to score over 300 runs in a T20 international. On Friday late night (Saturday early hours IST), England scored a massive 304 runs for 2 wickets in their allotted 20 overs against South Africa.

Phil Salt delivered a stunning unbeaten innings of 141 runs off just 60 balls, recording the highest individual T20I score by any English batsman. Captain Jos Buttler provided a blazing start with a quickfire 83 runs off 30 balls. Buttler reached his half-century in merely 18 balls, and by 5.5 overs, England had already scored 100 runs. Salt also set the record for the fastest T20I century by an English batsman, reaching 100 in just 39 balls.

In response, South Africa was bowled out for 158 runs in 16.1 overs. Captain Aiden Markram scored a resilient 41, while Bjorn Fortuin contributed 32 runs, but the team was overpowered by England’s bowlers. Jofra Archer took 3 wickets for 25 runs and Sam Curran chipped in with 2 wickets for 11 runs.

England’s 146-run victory is their largest margin in T20 international cricket to date and levels the series at 1-1.

Brief Scorecard:

England 304/2 (20 overs)

Phil Salt 141* (60 balls)

Jos Buttler 83 (30 balls)

South Africa 158 (16.1 overs)

Aiden Markram 41

Bjorn Fortuin 32

Bowling:

Jofra Archer 3/25

Sam Curran 2/11

This extraordinary performance by England sets new standards for T20 international cricket and highlights the phenomenal talents of players like Salt and Buttler.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar