STRETFORD: England produced a commanding all-round performance to thrash South Africa by 146 runs in the second T20I at Old Cricket Ground on Saturday, levelling the series with a display that combined batting fireworks and ruthless bowling.
Sent in to bat, England’s openers Phil Salt and Jos Buttler dismantled the Proteas attack with a blistering stand. Salt blazed an unbeaten 141 off just 60 balls, while Buttler added 83 to propel the side to 224 before his dismissal. Jacob Bethell’s quickfire 26 and skipper Harry Brook’s unbeaten 41 off 21 balls ensured the onslaught continued, lifting England to a mammoth 291. Extras pushed the final total to 305, setting South Africa a near-impossible chase.
In reply, the Proteas started brightly through captain Aiden Markram, who struck 41 off 20, and Ryan Rickelton’s cameo of 20. But once Adil Rashid removed Markram and Jofra Archer dismissed Rickelton, the visitors crumbled. Dewald Brevis and Pretorius fell cheaply, while Tristan Stubbs and Donovan Ferreira added brief resistance with 23 apiece. Bjorn Fortuin’s late 32 was the only other innings of note as wickets tumbled at regular intervals.
Archer, supported by Will Jacks and Liam Dawson, tore through the middle and lower order, bowling South Africa out for just 158 in 16.1 overs.
The emphatic win leaves the series evenly poised, with England’s bowlers complementing the earlier batting fireworks to deliver one of their most dominant T20 performances in recent memory.
