Salt turns up the heat, England obliterate Proteas

Phil Salt’s record score of 141* laid the platform for England’s record score of 304 for two, which proved more than sufficient for a 146-run victory against South Africa in the second T20 International at Old Trafford in Manchester on Friday night.

South Africa were predictably decimated in reply despite a brief flicker of hope with an opening stand of 50 in 3.3 overs between Aidan Markram (41) and Ryan Rickelton (20). But fast bowler Jofra Archer (3-25) ripped through the top and lower order to ensure an emphatic win.

Opener Salt’s century came from just 39 balls, with a Power Play total of 100-0 and England’s blazing total among a host of records broken as the home side smashed South Africa’s attack to ribbons after being asked to bat first.

Former captain Jos Buttler led the way with a brutal 83 from 30 balls with eight fours and seven sixes before slicing left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin to Tristan Stubbs at long off.

Salt picked up the pace with a barrage of boundaries, slicing, cutting, pulling and flicking fours almost at will, with the bowlers having no answer to the onslaught. Even with plans in place, they were unable to bowl the ball in the required areas and both Salt and Buttler gorged themselves at the bowling buffet.

Jacob Bethell bashed 26 from 14 balls before miscuing a drive against Fortuin (2-52) to long off, but there was no stopping England’s rampage with captain Harry Brook helping himself to 41* from 21 balls with five fours and a six.

SALT ENHANCES HIS T20 RECORD

Salt was denied much of the strike in the final overs but still finished with an eye-watering 141 not out from just 60 balls with 15 fours and eight sixes as he smashed his own individual record (119) for an England batsman in T20 cricket and led his country to their highest total in the format.

It was a horrendous day for SA’s bowlers with Lizaad Williams conceding a withering 60 runs from his first 15 balls - let that sink in – before finishing with 3-0-62-0. Fortuin (4-0-52-0) and Kwena Maphaka (4-0-41-0) escaped the worst of the savagery, but Marco Jansen (4-0-60-0), whose first over of the innings was lashed for 18 by Salt, did not.

Tristan Stubbs and Donovan Ferreira made 23 apiece but it was only ever about limiting the extent of the damage – and humiliation – and neither was achieved. Fortuin wiped a fraction of the embarrassment away with 32 from 16 balls but it was still England’s biggest win and South Africa’s greatest loss in T20I history.

South Africa won the first contest of the three-match series by 14 runs on the DLS system in slightly farcical circumstances in Cardiff on Wednesday night when rain curtailed South Africa’s innings after 7.5 overs and then reduced England’s reply to just five overs.

The Proteas scored 97 for five, to which England replied with 54 for five.

The third and deciding encounter will take place at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on Sunday.

ENGLAND: Philip Salt, Jos Buttler (wkt), Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (captain), Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Luke Wood

SOUTH AFRICA: Aiden Markram (captain), Ryan Rickelton (wkt), Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Bjorn Fortuin, Kwena Maphaka, Lizaad Williams