England opener Phil Salt has set his sights on becoming the best T20 batter in the world after delivering a record-breaking century in the clash against South Africa at Old Trafford. Salt’s unbeaten 141 from just 60 balls powered England to a historic win, leveling the series 1-1.
Phil Salt’s Explosive Century Against South Africa
In one of the most dominant T20 performances ever seen, Phil Salt lit up Old Trafford with a sensational knock. He smashed 23 boundaries, including eight sixes, and reached his century off just 39 deliveries – the fastest ever by an England player in T20 internationals, surpassing Liam Livingstone’s 42-ball effort.
Salt’s innings propelled England to a massive 304-2, the highest total in T20I history between two Test nations. South Africa, in reply, were bowled out for 158 as England sealed a 146-run victory.
Records Broken by Phil Salt
Salt’s heroics rewrote the record books:
- Fastest England T20I century (39 balls).
- Highest individual score for England in T20Is (141*), breaking his own record of 119.
- Most runs by an England batter in the first over of a T20I (18 off Marco Jansen).
- Became the first England player with four T20I centuries, joining global stars like Suryakumar Yadav and closing in on Rohit Sharma and Glenn Maxwell.
Former England batter Dawid Malan called it the “perfect game of cricket” for Salt, praising his flawless shot-making and fearless intent.
Phil Salt on His Mindset and Ambition
Speaking after the match, Phil Salt said his approach is about combining aggression with longevity at the crease.
“I want to take games as deep as possible while still batting at a high strike-rate. The goal is to be right up there. I want to be the best in the world at this,” Salt explained.
He emphasized the importance of making an early impact:
“If I can be the most dangerous in the first 10–15 balls of the game, that’s a unique tool. It’s something I’ve always worked on.”
Buttler, Brook and Team Effort Behind England’s Win
While Salt stole the headlines, Jos Buttler also played a blistering innings of 83 from 30 balls, setting the tone with a rapid 50 in just 18 deliveries. Their opening partnership of 126 runs from 47 balls gave England unstoppable momentum.
Captain Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell contributed crucial runs in the middle order, ensuring England maintained their dominance throughout the innings.
Brook praised Salt’s fearless approach, saying:
“He is selfless and knows exactly what his role is – to put bowlers under pressure from the start. Performances like this show we can be the most dominant team in the world.”
Conclusion: England Eye Series Decider in Nottingham
With the series tied at 1-1, the final T20 decider in Nottingham promises to be another thrilling clash. Phil Salt’s record-breaking performance has not only boosted England’s confidence but also reaffirmed his ambition to become the best T20 opener in world cricket.
If Salt continues in this form, England’s opponents will find it difficult to stop their explosive batting line-up.
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