Salt peppers Proteas for record-breaking England ton

Phil Salt has hit the fastest and highest hundred for England to launch the third-biggest men's total in the history of T20 internationals and ensure a smashing 146-run win over South Africa in Manchester.

Salt's unbeaten 141, after reaching three figures in a record 39 balls, and Jos Buttler's 83 decorated England's extraordinary total of 2-304, which included 18 sixes and 30 boundaries on Friday evening (Saturday AEST).

South Africa were then all out for 158 in the 17th over, with captain Aiden Markram out for a team-high 41, off 20 balls.

The three-match series now goes to a tiebreaker on Sunday in Nottingham.

"I'm pretty lost for words," England captain Harry Brook said.

"We never thought anyone could get 300 but with the batting line-up we have got, there's not many heights we can't reach."

Salt's ton came in a 23-run over bowled by Kagiso Rabada, who overstepped twice and bowled wide twice.

Salt passed his and England's highest T20 score of 119 from December 2023, and survived being out caught on 126 because Kwena Maphaka stepped on the rope at long-on, giving up Salt's sixth maximum.

England needed 16 runs off the last over to break 300 and got there thanks to another Rabada no ball. His 70 runs conceded were the most by a South African in men's T20s.

"I don't think any team's going to go out there going 'right, lads, 300 tonight'. That's a huge banana skin. But it's definitely a record to break," Salt said.

"I've played in some Indian Premier League games, where I feel like we've gone bananas all the way through, and we ended up on 270. It's a hell of an achievement."

England eclipsed the best total by an ICC full member, India's 6-297 versus Bangladesh in 2024.

Salt's 60-ball innings included eight sixes and 15 boundaries. Brook was with him on 41 off 21.

The bowlers then feasted on the pressure facing the Proteas and Jofra Archer took 3-25, Sam Curran 2-11, Will Jacks 2-2 and Liam Dawson 2-34.

"We need to be better than that. It was an abject performance, really not good enough," South Africa coach Shukri Conrad said.

HIGHEST TOTALS IN MEN'S T20 INTERNATIONALS:

* 4-344 Zimbabwe v Gambia - Nairobi, 2024

* 3-314 Nepal v Mongolia - Hangzhou, 2023

* 2-304 England v South Africa - Manchester, 2025

* 6-297 India v Bangladesh - Hyderabad, 2024

* 5-286 Zimbabwe v Seychelles - Nairobi, 2024

* 1-283 India v South Africa - Johannesburg, 2024