Manchester, September 12 – A night of sheer dominance unfolded at Old Trafford as England stormed back into the series with a record-breaking performance, leveling the three-match T20I series 1-1 against South Africa.
After a disappointing start to the tour, which saw them lose the ODI series and the opening T20I, England responded in spectacular fashion, posting a monumental 304 runs before bowling out South Africa for just 158, sealing victory by a colossal 146 runs.
From the very first over, the home side signaled their intent. Phil Salt, later adjudged Player of the Match, crafted a breathtaking 141 – the highest score ever by an England batter in T20 internationals. His fireworks at the top laid the perfect platform, ably supported by Jos Buttler’s blistering 83. Contributions from Jacob Bethell and skipper Harry Brook ensured the momentum never dipped, as England amassed their highest-ever total in the format. It was a batting exhibition that left the packed Old Trafford crowd in awe and the South African bowlers searching for answers.
For South Africa, chasing 305 was always going to be a mountain too steep. Their reply had fleeting moments of resistance, most notably through Aiden Markram’s attacking 41 off 20 balls. However, once he and Ryan Rickelton departed, the chase unraveled rapidly. Donovan Ferreira and Bjorn Fortuin provided cameos, but no one was able to mount the kind of innings needed to keep the Proteas in the contest. Under immense pressure, the visitors crumbled to 158 all out, suffering their heaviest defeat in T20 history.
The bowling unit for England also had a night to remember. With a massive cushion of runs, they bowled aggressively and without fear. Jofra Archer struck thrice, maintaining his fiery rhythm, while Sam Curran added two more on his return to national colors. Will Jacks and Liam Dawson chipped in with key breakthroughs, and although Adil Rashid proved a little expensive, he still managed to get among the wickets.
Captains from both camps reflected contrasting emotions at the post-match presentation. Harry Brook, elated with the team’s comeback, praised the explosive start given by his top order and stressed that every game was crucial preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup. He also hinted at tough selection calls ahead but expressed confidence in the depth of England’s squad. On the other hand, South African skipper Aiden Markram admitted that his side got it wrong right from the toss and accepted full responsibility. He acknowledged the brilliance of England’s batting and vowed to regroup quickly before the decider.
The emphatic victory now sets up a mouth-watering finale. With the series tied 1-1, the deciding third T20I will be staged at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, on Sunday, September 14. Both teams will enter the clash with everything to play for – England riding a wave of confidence after their record-breaking triumph, and South Africa desperate to bounce back from the hammering. Fans can expect another high-octane showdown as two quality sides battle for supremacy in the shortest format.