England's 304-2 is the third highest total in T20Is overall, only behind Zimbabwe's 344-4 against Gambia in Nairobi in 2024 and Nepal's 314-3 vs Mongolia in Hangzhou in 2023.
Phil Salt set Old Trafford ablaze with a destructive century, smashing multiple records, as England hammered South Africa by 146 runs to level the three-match T20 International series 1-1 on Friday.
On a record-breaking evening, England became the first team to score 300 runs in a T20I against a full member nation in the second game of the three-match series
Opening the batting, Salt brutally destroyed South Africa's bowling by blasting an unbeaten 141 off just 60 balls (15x4, 8x6) to take England to 304-2, their highest T20 total, surpassing the 267-3 against the West Indies in Tarouba in 2023.
It was also the third highest total in T20Is overall, only behind Zimbabwe's 344-4 against Gambia in Nairobi in 2024 and Nepal's 314-3 vs Mongolia in Hangzhou in 2023.
England breached the 200-run mark in 12.1 overs -- the fastest ever in a T20I. The previous record was held by Zimbabwe, reaching the mark in 12.5 overs against Gambia.
In pursuit of the colossal target, South Africa lost early wickets and were dismissed for 158 in under 17 overs. Skipper Aiden Markram was their top scorer with 41 off 20 balls, inclding 2 fours and 4 sixes.
Pacer Jofra Archer, who did not did not play in South Africa's rain-shortened series-opening victory in Cardiff on Wednesday, took three wickets for 25 runs in three overs.
India's 297-6 against Bangladesh in Hyderabad in 2024 is the fourth highest T20I total.
Sent in to bat, Salt and Jos Buttler gave England a blistering start, blazing away to 100 in 5.5 overs. In a jaw-dropping display of power hitting, Buttler feasted on the South African bowlers, smashing seven sixes and eight boundaries in his 30-ball 83.
Salt reached his hundred off just 39 balls, the fastest by an English batter, surpassing Liam Livingstone's previous record of 42 balls against Pakistan in 2021.
He also became the fastest to hit four T20I hundreds -- in 42 innings -- bettering the record of India's Suryakumar Yadav, who took 57 innings to accomplish the feat.
Skipper Harry Brook too tore into the South African attack with a quickfire 21-ball 41 (5x4, 1x6) and ensured that England breached the 300-run mark.