Harry Brook and Phil Salt. | (Credits: X)
England males’s cricket group turned solely the second full-member nation to hammer 300 runs in a T20I recreation as they battered South Africa by 146 runs on the Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester. The Englishmen hit the file rating sustaining a mind-boggling run-rate of 15.20 of their stipulated 20 overs by dropping solely two wickets.
Notably, Zimbabwe nonetheless maintain the file for the best group complete in T20Is after they made 344/4 in opposition to Gambia in October 2024.
Seeking a collection victory, the Englishmen had been put into bat by South African skipper Aiden Markram. However, England hit the bottom operating early of their innings as Jos Buttler and Phil Salt pounded a 126-run opening partnership solely in 7.5 overs. The residence facet additionally registered the best rating by any group in T20Is after 10 overs, clobbering 166. After Buttler departed for 83 off 30 deliveries, Salt continued the assault on the vacationers.
The opener stayed unbeaten on 141, whereas Jacob Bethell (26) and Harry Brook (41*) chipped in with essential cameos to raise their facet to 304/2 in 20 overs. Although South Africa made a fast begin, they stored dropping wickets at essential intervals. Aiden Markram top-sored with 41 because the Proteas ultimately folded for 158 in an innings that lasted solely 16.1 overs.
“When you are put beneath that kind of stress, it is arduous to return again” – Aiden Markram
At the post-game presentation, visiting captain Aiden Markram admitted accountability for calling unsuitable on the toss and stated:
“Tough one. We began getting it unsuitable from the toss. That was on me. Two masterclasses up entrance from them. When you are put beneath that kind of stress, it is arduous to return again. Sometimes, it solely lasts six or eight overs. Tonight, it lasted the complete 20. You count on good wickets these days in T20s and there are world-class gamers everywhere in the world.”
The third and last T20I will happen on Sunday in Nottingham.
