There are innings you watch, enjoy, and then forget. And then there are innings like the one Phil Salt played against South Africa performances that stay with you for years. On a night when England’s top order went berserk, Salt carved his name into the record books by smashing the fastest T20I century ever scored by an English player.
A Hundred to Remember
Salt didn’t just score a century, he tore it out of South Africa’s grasp in just 39 balls. The previous record? Liam Livingstone’s 42-ball ton against Pakistan. Salt didn’t just break it; he shattered it.
What made the knock special was the mix of power and poise. The free hit that zipped past mid-on for four, the calm single, the cheeky dab, all within a couple of balls, captured the balance of his game. He wasn’t just swinging hard; he was thinking, adapting, and executing with style.
Company of Legends
The record wasn’t just about pace. Salt has now racked up four T20I centuries in just 42 innings. Compare that to India’s Suryakumar Yadav, who needed 57. Globally, only Rohit Sharma and Glenn Maxwell, with five each, sit ahead of him. That’s rarefied air.
Most T20I Hundreds
- Glenn Maxwell – 5 (114 innings)
- Rohit Sharma – 5 (151 innings)
- Suryakumar Yadav – 4 (80 innings)
- Phil Salt – 4 (42 innings)
Not bad company for someone still building his international career.
Buttler’s Thunderous Start
Before Salt stole the headlines, Jos Buttler had already blasted South Africa into panic mode. The England skipper smashed 83 off just 30 balls. His fifty came in 18 deliveries, the third-fastest by any Englishman in T20 internationals.
Only Moeen Ali’s 16-ball blitz against South Africa in 2022 and Livingstone’s 17-ball mayhem against Pakistan in 2021 were quicker. Buttler even pipped Salt’s own 19-ball half-century from Lahore two years ago. It was pure fireworks, setting the tone for what was to follow.
The Partnership That Broke South Africa
The Salt-Buttler show in the power play was relentless. By the end of six overs, England had piled up 101 runs. Salt cracked 52 off just 20 balls. Buttler had already plundered 65.
Kagiso Rabada, South Africa’s most experienced bowler, leaked 27 runs in his first two overs. Lizaad Williams suffered even more, giving away 23 in a single over. It wasn’t just batting dominance; it was a demolition job.
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Buttler in the Powerplay Records
Buttler’s 65 in the powerplay ranks him fourth in the all-time list of most runs scored inside six overs of a T20I. The only players ahead are Travis Head (73), Paul Stirling (67), and Colin Munro (66). That puts Buttler above the likes of Quinton de Kock and Tim Seifert.
By the 10-over mark, England had charged to 166/1, the highest score ever by any team in the first 10 overs of a T20I. For context, the previous bests were Australia’s 156, India’s 152, and Zimbabwe’s 150. England didn’t just beat the record; they obliterated it.
Salt Keeps the Momentum
When Buttler finally holed out to Bjorn Fortuin for 83, the question was: would the innings slow down? Salt answered immediately Absolutely not.
He kept hammering South Africa’s bowlers with clean, confident hitting. His sixes weren’t mistimed swipes; they were calculated blows. His singles weren’t afterthoughts; they were part of keeping control. And when he finally raised his bat for that 39-ball century, the crowd knew they’d seen something special.
Why This Innings Matters
Plenty of players can score quick runs. But not everyone can do it against a world-class attack. Rabada and company aren’t easy pickings, yet Salt dismantled them. That’s the sign of a player stepping into the elite bracket.
It also comes at the perfect time for England. With another T20 World Cup on the horizon, Salt has shown he’s not just a flashy hitter. He’s a match-winner. Paired with Buttler at the top, he gives England arguably the most dangerous opening duo in world cricket.
England’s Aggressive Blueprint
This innings also reinforced England’s white-ball philosophy, attacking from the very first delivery. Forget caution, forget building slowly. They overwhelm teams. Phil Salt’s hundred was a shining example of that mentality in action.
And it’s not just Salt and Buttler. Add in Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, and even Ben Stokes when available England’s lineup is stacked with firepower. Every batter can change the game within a handful of balls. That’s why rivals dread facing them.
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