England crushed South Africa by 158 runs in a record-breaking performance in the second T20I played at Cardiff. Batting first, England posted 304 for 2, which became their highest total in T20Is and the third-highest ever in international T20 cricket. Phil Salt was the star of the innings, smashing 141 runs off just 60 balls.

In reply, South Africa never got into the hunt, being bowled out for 158 in 16.1 overs. Aiden Markram scored 41 runs off 20 balls, the highest individual score for South Africa. Jofra Archer (3/25 in 3 overs), Will Jacks (2/2 in 1 over), and Sam Curran (2/11 in 2 overs) took wickets at regular intervals, wrapping up the South African innings in 16.1 overs.

England Smash Records in Dominant Win

England produced a record-breaking performance to claim their biggest T20I victory and force a series decider. He broke his own record for the highest individual T20I score by an England player. His hundred came in only 39 deliveries, making it the fastest ever by an English batter. This knock was also Salt’s fourth T20I century, the most by any England player.

Jos Buttler provided strong support, smashing 65 runs off 24 balls as England’s top order destroyed the South African attack. England’s batting was so dominant that 228 of their runs came purely from boundaries, with 30 fours and 18 sixes making up nearly three-quarters of their total.

This emphatic win ensured the three-match series will go down to a thrilling finale on Sunday.

South Africa’s Bowlers Struggle Badly

South Africa’s bowling unit had a night to forget. Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, and Lizaad Williams all returned from injury but endured disastrous figures. Rabada went wicketless for 70 runs, Jansen conceded 60 without a wicket, and Williams gave away 62 runs without success.

Adding to their woes, South Africa conceded eight wides and five no-balls, effectively bowling two extra overs. Their discipline crumbled under pressure, continuing a poor run in which they have now leaked 772 runs across their last 75 overs in this tour, spanning the third ODI and both T20Is.

England Dominate the Powerplay

England signaled their intent from the very first ball. Salt began the assault by carving Marco Jansen through point for four. He followed it with another boundary through fine leg and then pierced the field again for a third consecutive four. Jansen’s opening over went for 18 runs.

Jos Buttler soon joined the onslaught. After a quieter start from Rabada’s first over, Lizaad Williams was hammered for 22 runs as Buttler unleashed his power. Bjorn Fortuin’s introduction did not help South Africa either, with his first over costing 20 runs. Even Rabada, when brought back, was taken apart for another 20-run over.

Buttler reached his fastest T20I fifty off just 18 balls, bringing up the milestone with a blistering shot through square leg. By the end of the Powerplay, England had rocketed to 87 for 0, with Buttler on 65 and Salt closing in on his half-century.

Salt Takes Over After Buttler Falls

Buttler’s breathtaking innings ended in the eighth over when he swept Fortuin straight to Tristan Stubbs at deep backward square. With his captain gone, Salt took full control and completely dismantled South Africa’s bowling.

In the very next over, he attacked Williams with a series of brutal strokes. He reached his fifty off just 19 balls, hitting one delivery over midwicket for six and another full toss over extra cover for yet another maximum. South Africa’s bowlers were left without answers as Salt found the boundary almost at will.

Even when Kwena Maphaka tried to vary his pace, Salt adjusted and dispatched the ball with ease, pulling short deliveries, lofting good-length balls straight down the ground, and punishing anything loose. By the halfway stage, England had already reached 166 for 1.

When Rabada returned for his second spell, Salt pounced on two free hits and reached his century off just 39 balls. He wasn’t finished yet. Soon after, he stepped across his stumps and launched Williams over square leg for six, surpassing his own record for the highest individual T20I score by an England batter.

There was a dramatic moment when Maphaka thought he had caught Salt at long-on with a relay effort. However, replays showed his heel had touched the boundary cushion, turning what seemed like a dismissal into another six. Salt finished unbeaten on 141, which became the seventh-highest score in T20I history.

South Africa’s Chase Falters Despite Fast Start

Facing a massive target of 305, South Africa needed to score at over 15 runs per over. They started strongly, reaching 50 without loss inside just 21 balls. Ryan Rickelton looked threatening, taking 16 runs off the first three deliveries of Jofra Archer’s second over.

But Archer immediately struck back. On the fourth ball of that over, Rickelton mistimed a powerful shot and was brilliantly caught by Liam Dawson at short midwicket. Three balls later, Archer deceived Lhuan-dre Pretorius with a slower delivery, forcing a top edge to short third man.

With the score at 53 for 2, South Africa were under pressure, but they still had hope with Dewald Brevis at the crease. Brevis hit the first ball he faced for four, but when he attempted to clear midwicket off Sam Curran, he miscued, and Archer took a simple catch at mid-on. That left South Africa reeling at 57 for 4 by the end of the Powerplay.

From there, the chase collapsed completely. Archer returned in the 12th over to dismiss Jansen with a sharp catch off his own bowling. He later took two more catches to remove Tristan Stubbs and Rabada, playing a part in six of South Africa’s dismissals on the night.

Curran’s Clever Variations Shine

Sam Curran was England’s most effective bowler, using his trademark slower deliveries to great effect. Some balls floated down at just 47 miles per hour, while others were delivered more quickly to keep the batters guessing.

Brevis fell to a quicker delivery, while Donovan Ferreira was undone by a deceptive short ball that he mistimed badly, skying it over Jos Buttler, who ran back and completed a smart catch. Curran ended with remarkable figures of 2 for 11 in two overs, with an economy rate of just 5.50.

Will Jacks also chipped in with a highly effective over, taking two wickets while conceding only two runs.

South Africa Run Out of Steam

Aiden Markram tried to fight back with 41 off 20 balls, his highest score in 18 innings, while Fortuin added 32 off 16 balls late on. But without support from the middle order, South Africa’s innings faded away.

They were eventually bowled out well short of the target, as England sealed a crushing win. The result leaves the series evenly poised at 1-1, setting up a thrilling decider on Sunday.