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Salt’s Record-Breaking Century Leads England to T20 Victory Over South Africa
Phil Salt has expressed his ambition to become the “best in the world” as a T20 opener after delivering a record-shattering century in England’s commanding 146-run triumph over South Africa.
The 29-year-old ignited Old Trafford with an unbeaten 141 from 60 balls, not only eclipsing numerous individual records – most notably reaching his century in just 39 balls, surpassing Liam Livingstone’s England record – but also propelling his team past 300 for the first time in T20s.
England’s formidable 304-2 marked a record total in a T20I between two Test-playing nations, showcasing a blistering display of power hitting before dismissing South Africa for 158 to level the series at 1-1 ahead of Sunday’s decisive match in Nottingham.
Salt adopted an aggressive approach from the outset, immediately dispatching Marco Jansen for three boundaries and subsequently finding the boundary rope an impressive 23 times, including eight sixes, during his monumental innings.
“I enjoy being at the crease for as long as possible and have a strong desire to impact the game, that’s how I approach it,” Salt stated.
“I aim to take games as deep as possible while maintaining a high strike rate. These two aspects don’t always align, but that’s what I strive to achieve as a player.
“The ultimate goal is to be among the very best. I aspire to be the best in the world at what I do.”
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Regardless of whether he achieves that ambition, Salt’s performance was one for the record books.
“To score 140 with such conviction, hardly mis-hitting a ball, and taking the game on from the first ball – it was a perfect game of cricket for him,” former England batter Dawid Malan told BBC Test Match Special.
Salt established a record after just six balls, accumulating 18 runs off Jansen, the most by an England batter in the opening over of a T20I.
After being starved of strike by opening partner Jos Buttler for a period, he reached his half-century in 19 deliveries and required only 20 more to reach his century.
His 39-ball hundred stands as the fastest by an England player, eclipsing Liam Livingstone’s 42-ball century against Pakistan in 2021.
Finishing unbeaten on 141, Salt also surpassed his own record of 119 (set against West Indies in 2023) for the highest score for England men in the format and Danni Wyatt-Hodge’s overall record of 124 against India in 2018.
He has now recorded four of England’s eight centuries in men’s T20Is, with Livingstone, Buttler, Alex Hales, and Malan each contributing one.
This achievement draws him level with India’s Suryakumar Yadav in terms of career T20I centuries, with Rohit Sharma and Glenn Maxwell (five) being the only players ahead of him.
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‘Magnificent’ Buttler knock sends England on their way to mammoth total
Salt, who was dismissed for a golden duck in Cardiff on Wednesday, quickly found his rhythm on home soil, hitting 18 runs off his first three balls to set the tone for England’s onslaught.
With Buttler also in exceptional form, England reached 100-0 after six overs, just two shy of South Africa’s 102-0 against West Indies in 2023 – a powerplay record for a match between Test nations.
“I want to leave my mark on an innings,” Salt said. “In order to displace someone, you have to offer something they can’t.
“Early in my career, I identified that being the most dangerous in the first 10 to 15 balls of the game could be a unique asset. It’s something I’ve consistently worked on.”
While Salt’s innings dominated the headlines, England captain Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell contributed valuable supporting knocks, while Buttler was on track for a blistering century of his own before being dismissed for 83 from 30 balls.
He was the early aggressor in England’s innings, dominating the first-wicket partnership of 126 from 47 balls, and reaching his half-century in just 18 balls during the fifth over.
“I can’t transform into Jos Buttler overnight, but I’ve learned a lot from his approach to the game,” Salt said.
“His consistent performances throughout his career are what I aspire to achieve.”
Brook praised Salt’s performance and said his side’s display showcased their capability of being “the most dominant team in the world”.
“His ability to go out there and hit the first ball for four, a risky aerial shot after a golden duck the other night, encapsulates the type of player he is,” Brook told Test Match Special.
“He is selfless and fully understands his role – to apply pressure to the opposition bowlers from the outset.
“It’s an extreme example, but it demonstrates the level of dominance we can achieve. We have the potential to be the most dominant team in the world moving forward. If we replicate the performance from tonight, there’s no reason why we can’t beat any team.”
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