Phil Salt Leads England to Historic T20I Victory Over South Africa
The England vs South Africa 2nd T20I 2025 in Manchester witnessed a breathtaking display of power hitting from Phil Salt. England posted a mammoth 304 for 2, the highest T20I score by the team, before bowling South Africa out for just 158. The 146-run victory gave England a 2-0 lead in the series.
Phil Salt Stars in England vs South Africa 2nd T20I 2025
Opener Phil Salt stole the show with a stunning unbeaten 141 from only 60 deliveries. His innings featured relentless boundary hitting, leaving the South African bowlers with no answers. Salt’s strike rate remained above 230 throughout, and his acceleration in the death overs pushed England beyond the 300-run mark.
Support came from Jos Buttler, who played the anchor role with a controlled 82. Together, the pair built a 200-run stand that broke South Africa’s spirit. Liam Livingstone added quick runs at the end, ensuring England set a near-impossible target.
South Africa Collapse Under Pressure
Chasing 305, South Africa never found momentum. Their openers started cautiously, but early breakthroughs left them struggling in the powerplay. Reeza Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen attempted to rebuild but fell to sharp bowling from Reece Topley and Adil Rashid.
The middle order collapsed as boundaries dried up. David Miller’s brief cameo of 22 was the only highlight in an otherwise disappointing chase. South Africa folded for 158 in 16.1 overs, suffering one of their heaviest T20I defeats.
Records and Key Takeaways from England vs South Africa 2nd T20I 2025
Phil Salt’s 141* not only sealed the win but also marked his career-best score in T20Is. England’s total of 304 became the second-highest team score in men’s T20 internationals. The victory margin of 146 runs underlined their dominance.With this performance, England secured the series with a game to spare. South Africa, however, will aim to regain pride in the third T20I.
The England vs South Africa 2nd T20I 2025 will be remembered for Salt’s masterclass, a knock that redefined batting brilliance in T20 cricket.
