LONDON - Phil Salt hit the highest score and quickest century by an England batsman in a T20 international as the hosts hammered South Africa by 146 runs to level their three-match series at 1-1 during a record-breaking evening at Old Trafford on Friday.
Opening batsman Salt's astounding 141 not out was the cornerstone of England's mammoth 304-2.
It was the first time in a T20 international between two Test-playing nations a side had reached 300, with India having come closest previously, scoring 297-6 against Bangladesh in Hyderabad in 2024.
South Africa, faced with a colossal chase, unsurprisingly lost early wickets and were dismissed for 158 in under 17 overs, with skipper Aiden Markram's 41 their top score.
Jofra Archer took 3-25 in three overs after the England express quick did not feature in the Proteas' series-opening win in a rain-shortened match in Cardiff on Wednesday.
Markram admitted things had gone against South Africa even before the first ball, saying: "Probably started getting it wrong from the toss, so that one's on me.
"Two masterclasses up front from them and when you're put under that amount of pressure it's tough to come back."
This series concludes at Trent Bridge on Sunday.