Introduction
On September 12, 2025, Old Trafford in Manchester witnessed a T20I masterclass as England obliterated South Africa by 146 runs in the second T20I, leveling the series 1-1. Phil Salt’s unbeaten 141 off 60 balls—the highest individual score by an Englishman in T20Is—propelled England to a staggering 304/2, the first 300+ total against a full-member team. Jos Buttler’s ferocious 83 off 30 balls set the tone, while South Africa’s bowlers, including returning stars Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen, were left reeling. The visitors’ chase crumbled at 158, with Jofra Archer’s 3/25 and four catches stealing the show.
This wasn’t just a win; it was a statement of England’s T20 dominance ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Can they carry this momentum into the series decider in Nottingham? Let’s dive into the England vs South Africa 2nd T20I 2025 recap, highlights, and analysis.
Pre-Match Context: Setting the Stage for a Run-Fest
The England vs South Africa 2nd T20I 2025 came on the heels of a rain-marred first T20I in Cardiff, where South Africa chased a revised target to lead 1-0. England, under new captain Harry Brook, were eager to bounce back at Old Trafford, a venue known for high-scoring T20 encounters. South Africa’s Aiden Markram won the toss and opted to bowl, a decision he later admitted was a misstep: “Started getting it wrong from the toss.” The pitch was a batsman’s dream—hard, skiddy, and with short boundaries, as Jos Buttler noted: “A fresh wicket, sliding on nicely.”
England T20I Record England fielded an unchanged XI, banking on their explosive top order of Salt, Buttler, and Will Jacks, with Jofra Archer leading the bowling attack. South Africa welcomed back pace trio Kagiso Rabada, Lizaad Williams, and Marco Jansen from injuries, hoping to bolster their attack after a modest outing in Cardiff. Fans anticipated a thriller, but few could predict the record-shattering carnage that followed.
England’s Historic Batting Masterclass
England vs South Africa 2nd T20I 2025 England’s innings was a T20 batting clinic, rewriting record books with 304/2 in 20 overs. The hosts smashed 48 boundaries (30 fours, 18 sixes), accounting for 75% of their runs, led by Phil Salt’s 141* and Buttler’s blistering 83. Here’s a detailed breakdown of their innings.
Powerplay Explosion: 100/0 in 5.5 Overs
England T20I Record From the first ball, England signaled their intent. Phil Salt faced Marco Jansen and sliced a full, wide delivery over backward point for four. Two more boundaries followed in the same over—a whip through fine leg and a cut past point—before a towering six capped an 18-run start. Rabada’s first over was tighter (7 runs), but Buttler unleashed mayhem in the third over against Lizaad Williams, smashing consecutive sixes over midwicket and two fours (pull and drive) for 22 runs.
Left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin was welcomed with a 20-run over, as Salt and Buttler plundered boundaries and a six. Rabada, switching ends, conceded 20 more, with Buttler racing to a 50 off 18 balls—his fastest in T20Is—with a short-arm pull for four. Young Kwena Maphaka closed the Powerplay with a 13-run over, but England reached 100/0 in 5.5 overs, the second-fastest against a full-member team, behind only Australia’s 113/1 vs Scotland in 2024.
Table 1: England’s Powerplay Breakdown
| Over | Bowler | Runs | Key Moments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marco Jansen | 18 | Salt: 3×4, 1×6 |
| 2 | Kagiso Rabada | 7 | Buttler: 1×4 |
| 3 | Lizaad Williams | 22 | Buttler: 2×6, 2×4 |
| 4 | Bjorn Fortuin | 20 | Salt & Buttler: Boundaries, 1×6 |
| 5 | Kagiso Rabada | 20 | Buttler: 6-4-4-4, 50 off 18 |
| 6 | Kwena Maphaka | 13 | Buttler: 1×6, 1×4 |
Middle Overs Momentum: 166/1 at 10 Overs
Buttler’s onslaught continued until the 8th over when he swept Fortuin to deep backward square for 83 off 30 balls (9×4, 6×6). His 126-run opening stand with Salt came off 47 balls at a run rate of 16.06—the highest for a 100+ opening partnership by a full-member side in T20Is. Jacob Bethell joined Salt, who brought up his 50 off 19 balls in the 9th over against Williams, hammering two sixes off legcutters and a wide full toss.
The 10th over saw Markram bowl, conceding 19 runs as Salt and Bethell kept the scoreboard ticking. England reached 166/1 at 10 overs, the highest halfway total in T20I history where ball-by-ball data exists, surpassing Australia’s 156/3 vs Scotland in 2024. Fortuin struck again, dismissing Bethell (26 off 14), but South Africa’s bowlers struggled with discipline, with Rabada conceding 23 runs in the 12th over, including two no-balls.
Table 2: Key Middle Overs Moments
| Over | Bowler | Runs | Key Moments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Bjorn Fortuin | 10 | Buttler out for 83 (9×4, 6×6) |
| 9 | Lizaad Williams | 18 | Salt: 50 off 19, 2×6 |
| 10 | Aiden Markram | 19 | Salt & Bethell: Boundaries, 166/1 |
| 12 | Kagiso Rabada | 23 | Salt: Free-hit 6, century off 39 balls |
Salt’s Century and 300+ Finish: Overs 11-20
England T20I Record Salt’s assault peaked in the 12th over when he swatted a free-hit six off Rabada to notch his century in 39 balls—the fastest by an Englishman, eclipsing Liam Livingstone’s 42-ball effort in 2021. His 141 (60 balls, 12×4, 10×6)* was a T20I record for England, surpassing his own 119 vs West Indies in 2023. Harry Brook (41* off 21) played a perfect foil, peppering boundaries behind square.
Phil Salt 141 The 19th over saw Salt clobber Jansen for two sixes, while Rabada’s final over leaked 20 runs, including two more no-balls, as England surged past 300. The 304/2 was the third-highest T20I total ever, behind Zimbabwe’s 344/4 vs Gambia (2024) and Nepal’s 314/3 vs Mongolia (2023). The 48 boundaries (30×4, 18×6) were the second-most in a T20I innings, only behind Zimbabwe’s 57 vs Gambia.
Table 3: England’s Innings Summary
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Key Milestone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phil Salt | 141* | 60 | 12 | 10 | Fastest ENG century (39 balls) |
| Jos Buttler | 83 | 30 | 9 | 6 | 50 off 18 balls |
| Harry Brook | 41* | 21 | 5 | 2 | Unbeaten support role |
| Jacob Bethell | 26 | 14 | 3 | 1 | Quick cameo |
| Total | 304/2 | 20 overs | 30 | 18 | 1st 300+ vs full-member team |
South Africa’s Bowling Struggles
South Africa T20I Loss South Africa’s bowlers endured a nightmare, with Rabada (0/70), Williams (0/62), and Jansen (0/60) becoming the first trio to concede 60+ runs in a T20I innings. Their lack of variations and 13 extras (8 wides, 5 no-balls) gifted England two extra overs. Fortuin (2/52) was the only bowler to take wickets, but even he leaked runs at 13 per over.
Table 4: South Africa’s Bowling Figures
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kagiso Rabada | 4 | 70 | 0 | 17.50 | 5 no-balls, most expensive |
| Lizaad Williams | 4 | 62 | 0 | 15.50 | Hammered by Buttler |
| Marco Jansen | 4 | 60 | 0 | 15.00 | 18 runs in 1st over |
| Bjorn Fortuin | 4 | 52 | 2 | 13.00 | Only wicket-taker |
| Aiden Markram | 2 | 29 | 0 | 14.50 | Expensive captain’s spell |
| Kwena Maphaka | 2 | 31 | 0 | 15.50 | Tough debut |
South Africa’s Chase: A Valiant Start, Then Collapse
England vs South Africa 2nd T20I 2025 Chasing a daunting 305—well beyond their record T20I chase of 259/4 vs West Indies in 2023—South Africa needed 15.25 runs per over. Despite a fiery start, they crumbled to 158 all out in 16.1 overs, handing England their biggest T20I win by runs.
Early Aggression: 79/3 in 5 Overs
South Africa T20I Loss Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton launched an audacious assault, racing to 50/0 in 3.4 overs. Markram smashed 22 off Luke Wood’s first over, including three fours and a six. Rickelton countered with a 4-6-6 sequence against Jofra Archer. However, Liam Dawson’s spectacular catch at deep midwicket ended Rickelton’s 29 off 15, and Archer struck twice more in the 5th over, dismissing Lhuan-dre Pretorius (0) to leave South Africa at 79/3.
Middle-Order Meltdown: 158 All Out
Phil Salt 141 The chase derailed rapidly. Dewald Brevis (4) fell to Sam Curran, and Markram’s counter-attacking 41 off 20 balls (3×4, 3×6) ended when he sliced Wood to long-off. Donovan Ferreira smashed 20 off Adil Rashid’s second over, but Curran (2/11) removed him. Tristan Stubbs (12) and Marco Jansen (8) fell cheaply, leaving South Africa 112/7.
Bjorn Fortuin’s entertaining 32 off 16 balls provided brief resistance, but Will Jacks’ double strike (Fortuin and Kwena Maphaka off consecutive balls) and Dawson’s final wicket sealed the rout. Archer’s 3/25 and four catches— a T20I record for an England outfielder—were pivotal, while Curran’s tight spell choked the middle order.
Table 5: South Africa’s Batting Summary
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aiden Markram | 41 | 20 | 3 | 3 | Top-scored, lacked support |
| Bjorn Fortuin | 32 | 16 | 3 | 2 | Late cameo |
| Ryan Rickelton | 29 | 15 | 3 | 2 | Explosive start, caught out |
| Tristan Stubbs | 12 | 10 | 1 | 0 | Middle-order collapse |
| Total | 158 | 16.1 overs | 13 | 8 | 146-run loss |
Table 6: England’s Bowling Figures
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jofra Archer | 4 | 25 | 3 | 6.25 | 4 catches, match-defining |
| Sam Curran | 2.1 | 11 | 2 | 5.23 | Tight spell, key wickets |
| Will Jacks | 3 | 28 | 2 | 9.33 | Double strike in 15th over |
| Liam Dawson | 4 | 34 | 2 | 8.50 | Stunning catch, final wicket |
| Luke Wood | 3 | 35 | 1 | 11.66 | Expensive but got Markram |
| Adil Rashid | 3 | 25 | 0 | 8.33 | Kept it tight |
Records and Milestones: A Night of History
The England vs South Africa 2nd T20I 2025 shattered multiple T20I records, cementing its place in cricket lore. Here’s a comprehensive look at the milestones:
- England’s 146-run victory: Largest by runs in their T20I history, surpassing 137 vs West Indies in 2019.
- South Africa’s 146-run defeat: Heaviest by runs, beating 135 vs India in 2024.
- 304/2: First 300+ total vs a full-member team, third-highest in T20Is.
- Phil Salt’s 141*: England’s highest T20I score, fifth-highest by a full-member batter, surpassing Babar Azam’s 122 vs South Africa (2021).
- 39-ball century: Fastest by an Englishman, joint-fastest vs South Africa (with Johnson Charles, 2023).
- 48 boundaries (30×4, 18×6): Second-most in a T20I innings, behind Zimbabwe’s 57 vs Gambia (2024).
- 126 off 47 balls (Salt-Buttler): Highest run-rate (16.06) for a 100+ opening stand by a full-member side.
- 166/1 at 10 overs: Highest halfway total in T20Is with ball-by-ball data.
- 200 in 12.1 overs: Fastest in T20 history with available data.
- Jofra Archer’s 4 catches: T20I record for an England outfielder.
Table 7: Highest T20I Totals
| Team | Total | Opponent | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zimbabwe | 344/4 | Gambia | Nairobi | 2024 |
| Nepal | 314/3 | Mongolia | Hangzhou | 2023 |
| England | 304/2 | South Africa | Manchester | 2025 |
| India | 297/6 | Bangladesh | Hyderabad | 2024 |
| Zimbabwe | 286/5 | Seychelles | Nairobi | 2024 |
Table 8: Highest Individual T20I Scores for England
| Player | Score | Opponent | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phil Salt | 141* | South Africa | Manchester | 2025 |
| Phil Salt | 119 | West Indies | Tarouba | 2023 |
| Alex Hales | 116* | Sri Lanka | Chattogram | 2014 |
| Phil Salt | 109* | West Indies | St George’s | 2023 |
| Dawid Malan | 103* | New Zealand | Napier | 2019 |
Salt’s 4th T20I century in 42 innings matches Suryakumar Yadav’s tally, trailing only Glenn Maxwell and Rohit Sharma (5 each). His 39-ball ton was a testament to his explosive form, making him a cornerstone for England’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign.
Voices from the Match: Reactions and Insights
The England vs South Africa 2nd T20I 2025 left players and captains in awe. Here’s what they said:
- Harry Brook (England Captain): “Really lost for words, that was phenomenal at the start. With our batting line-up, there are not many heights we cannot reach. Awesome preparation for the T20 World Cup.”
- Aiden Markram (South Africa Captain): “Tough one, started getting it wrong from toss. Two masterclass knocks at the top. We need plans for Sunday.”
- Phil Salt (Player of the Match): “That was really good fun. Getting 300 and winning by such a big margin—you can’t ask for much more. The Powerplay was key.”
- Jos Buttler: “A score of 300, I never thought I’d see that. Salt puts so much pressure on bowlers from ball one.”
Tactical Takeaways
- England’s Aggression: Salt and Buttler’s Powerplay onslaught set a template for modern T20 batting—attack from ball one, exploit short boundaries, and maintain a 15+ run rate. This approach signals England’s intent for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
- South Africa’s Bowling Woes: Rabada, Williams, and Jansen lacked variations, bowling predictable lengths. Their 13 extras and five no-balls were costly, as Markram admitted: “When you’re under that kind of pressure, it’s tough to come back.”
- Archer’s Return: Jofra Archer’s 3/25 and four catches underscored his all-round value, boosting England’s bowling confidence.
- South Africa’s Middle Order: The collapse from 79/0 to 158 exposed ongoing issues, with only Markram and Fortuin showing fight. The Proteas need solutions before the decider.
What’s Next for England and South Africa?
England vs South Africa 2nd T20I 2025 The series heads to Trent Bridge, Nottingham, for the decider on September 14, 2025, at 2:30 PM local time. With short square boundaries, another run-fest looms. England, buoyed by their Old Trafford T20I 2025 heroics, will back their batting firepower and Archer’s bowling. South Africa must address their bowling indiscipline and middle-order fragility to avoid another thrashing. Can Markram rally his troops, or will Salt and Buttler continue their rampage? Follow IPL Star’s live coverage for updates!
England vs South Africa T20I Series 2025
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What happened in the England vs South Africa 2nd T20I 2025?
In the England vs South Africa 2nd T20I 2025 at Old Trafford, England posted a record-breaking 304/2, led by Phil Salt’s 141* and Jos Buttler’s 83, defeating South Africa by 146 runs. South Africa managed only 158, with Jofra Archer’s 3/25 and four catches sealing the victory, leveling the series 1-1.
2. What is England’s highest T20I score?
England’s 304/2 in the England vs South Africa 2nd T20I 2025 is their highest T20I total, the first 300+ score against a full-member team, and the third-highest overall, behind Zimbabwe’s 344/4 (2024) and Nepal’s 314/3 (2023).
3. Who scored the fastest T20I century for England in 2025?
Phil Salt scored a 39-ball century in the England vs South Africa 2nd T20I 2025, the fastest by an Englishman, surpassing Liam Livingstone’s 42-ball effort in 2021. It’s also joint-fastest against South Africa, matching Johnson Charles’ 2023 feat.
4. What was South Africa’s heaviest T20I defeat in 2025?
South Africa T20I Loss South Africa’s 146-run loss to England in the England vs South Africa 2nd T20I 2025 is their heaviest T20I defeat by runs, overtaking a 135-run loss to India in Johannesburg in 2024.
5. How did Phil Salt perform in the England vs South Africa 2nd T20I 2025?
Phil Salt’s 141* (60 balls, 12×4, 10×6) in the England vs South Africa 2nd T20I 2025 was England’s highest T20I score, fifth-highest by a full-member batter, and included a 39-ball century, earning him Player of the Match.
6. What was Jofra Archer’s contribution in the 2nd T20I 2025?
Jofra Archer shone in the England vs South Africa 2nd T20I 2025, taking 3/25 in 4 overs and holding a record four catches as an outfielder, dismantling South Africa’s chase of 305.
7. Why did South Africa’s bowlers struggle in the 2nd T20I 2025?
South Africa T20I Loss South Africa’s bowlers, including Kagiso Rabada (0/70), Lizaad Williams (0/62), and Marco Jansen (0/60), struggled due to lack of variations, poor discipline (13 extras, 5 no-balls), and England’s aggressive batting in the England vs South Africa 2nd T20I 2025.
8. What records were broken in the England vs South Africa 2nd T20I 2025?
England vs South Africa 2nd T20I 2025The match saw England’s largest T20I win (146 runs), first 300+ total vs a full-member team (304/2), Phil Salt’s 141* as England’s highest score, and 48 boundaries as the second-most in T20Is.
9. When is the 3rd T20I between England and South Africa in 2025?
The series decider is scheduled for September 14, 2025, at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, at 2:30 PM local time, following the England vs South Africa 2nd T20I 2025.
10. How did Jos Buttler contribute to England’s victory in the 2nd T20I 2025?
Jos Buttler smashed 83 off 30 balls (9×4, 6×6) in the England vs South Africa 2nd T20I 2025, reaching 50 in 18 balls and setting the tone for England’s record 304/2 with a 126-run opening stand alongside Salt.