England delivered a record-breaking batting display at Old Trafford on Friday, posting a monumental 304 for 2 against South Africa — only the third 300-plus total in T20I history and the first ever by a Test-playing nation.
Powered by a destructive opening stand from Jos Buttler and Phil Salt, England raced to the mammoth score in their 20 overs before cruising to a 146-run victory. The win marked their biggest margin of victory in T20Is and one of the largest by any full-member side.
World record total
England’s 304/2 is now the highest T20I total by a full-member team, surpassing India’s 297/6 against Bangladesh in Hyderabad in 2024. Only Zimbabwe’s 344/4 (against Gambia) and Nepal’s 314/3 (against Mongolia) are higher overall.
It was England’s second 250-plus total in T20Is. South Africa, meanwhile, became the first full-member side to concede 250 or more on three separate occasions.
Fastest milestones
England reached 200 runs in just 12.1 overs — the quickest by a Test nation. Only Bulgaria has reached the mark faster, in 11.5 overs.
They also set records for the second-fastest 150 (in 9 overs) and the fastest 250 (in 16.2 overs) in T20I history.
Phil Salt’s record-breaking knock
Opener Phil Salt struck a scintillating 142 not out off just 63 balls. His century came in 39 deliveries, breaking Liam Livingstone’s previous England record of 42 balls set against Pakistan in 2021.
Salt’s innings is now England’s highest individual T20I score, surpassing his own 119 against West Indies in 2023. It also stands as the seventh-highest in men’s T20I history and the highest ever against South Africa.
Powerplay carnage
England plundered 100 runs without loss in the powerplay — their best-ever six-over total and only the seventh instance of a team passing 100 in a T20I powerplay.
Buttler and Salt also became the first opening pair from a full-member nation to reach fifties in fewer than 20 balls each during the same innings.
Historic winning margin
The 146-run victory was England’s largest T20I win by runs. Among full-member nations, it ranks third behind India’s 168-run win over New Zealand (2023) and their 150-run win against England earlier in 2024.
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