England Shatter Records with 304/2 and 146-Run Win Over South Africa

Records were broken at Old Trafford as England earned their biggest-ever T20I win, while South Africa suffered their heaviest defeat in the format. Harry Brook’s team outplayed the visitors, winning by a huge margin of 146 runs to level the three-match series. The action now moves to Nottingham, where Sunday’s game will decide the series. Put into bat first, England went hammer and tongs right from ball one, scoring exactly 100 runs in the powerplay. Phil Salt and Jos Buttler added 126 runs for the first wicket in just 7.4 overs before the latter was taken care of by Bjorn Fortuin. Before getting out, Jos the Boss hit a whirlwind 83 off just 30 balls. 

However, it was only the trailer of what was about to come. Salt storm hit South Africa, with the Lancashire opener hammering the fastest T20I hundred for an Englishman, getting to the milestone off just 39 balls. He also broke his own record for the highest individual score for an English batter in the format, during his unbeaten 141 off just 60 balls, slamming 15 fours and 8 sixes.

England Smash Records with 146-Run Win to Level Series Against South Africa

Jacob Bethell (26 off 14) and Harry Brook (41* off 21) supported Salt very well, involving in a 95-run partnership and an unbeaten 83-run partnership, for the second and third wicket, respectively, as England became the only 4th team in the T20 history to breach the 300-run mark, posting a gargantuan score of 304/2 in 20 overs. Apart from Fortuin, who picked up two wickets, everyone got hammered to different parts of the venue, with Rabada conceding 70 runs in his 4 overs, Williams leaking 62 runs in his 3 overs and Jansen giving away 60 runs in his 4-over spell.

In reply, Aiden Markram hit a few big shots and raced to 41 off just 20 balls, giving the Proteas a flying start, adding 50 runs for the opening wicket along with Ryan Rickelton, who hit a breezy cameo before Liam Dawson plucked a catch out of the thin air to begin South Africa's downfall. Wickets fell at regular intervals as South Africa had to keep going at a pace that would break at any point. Youngsters - Pretorius and Brevis - lost their wickets even before they got enough balls to be settled in the middle. Stubbs and Ferreira got into the 20s, with the former really struggling for his 23 off 26 balls. The latter also scored 23, but it came off just 11 balls.

Bjorn Fortuin had some fun towards the end, scoring 32 off 16 balls. He even struck Adil Rashid for 4 boundaries in a row. Eventually, the wheels came off for the visitors as they were bundled out for just 158 in 16.1 overs. Jofra Archer (3/25) was the pick of England's bowlers. He even took 4 catches, which is the highest number of catches taken by an outfielder in a T20I innings for the hosts. Liam Dawson (2/34), Sam Curran (2/11) and Will Jacks (2/2) returned with a couple of wickets, while Rashid finished with 1/48.

Highest Innings Totals in T20s

Biggest Wins for England in T20Is (by Runs)

Highest Match Aggregates for England in T20Is

STATS ATTACK

Most Fours and Sixes Hit in a T20I Match (Full Member Nations)

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