RCB star scripts history, smashes fastest T20I century for England in clash against South Africa in explosive hitting display

Star England batter Phil Salt has made history by smashing the fastest-ever T20I century by an English player. His blistering hundred came off just 39 balls, surpassing the previous record of 42 balls set by Liam Livingstone against Pakistan in 2021.

Phil Salt wreaks havoc, hammers fastest hundred for England in T20Is

Salt's remarkable feat was a combination of brute force and clever shot selection, coming after a powerful display from opening partner Jos Buttler that put the South African bowlers on the back foot early. The milestone was sealed in style, with a well-timed drive through mid-on for four, followed by a single off a free hit and a quick dab from Bethell off Kagiso Rabada.

Salt's century also places him in elite company on the global stage. He is one of the fastest players to four T20I hundreds, reaching the mark in just 42 innings. This is notably quicker than India's Suryakumar Yadav, who took 57 innings to achieve the same milestone. In terms of overall T20I centuries, only Glenn Maxwell and Rohit Sharma have more, with five each, solidifying Salt's position as one of the game's top batters in the format.

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Salt's record-breaking century was built on a foundation laid by an explosive start from his opening partner, Jos Buttler. Buttler's innings of 83 off just 30 balls included an 18-ball fifty, making it the third-fastest by an English batter in T20I history. He now sits behind Moeen Ali, who holds the national record with a 16-ball fifty, and Liam Livingstone, who achieved a 17-ball fifty in 2021. Buttler's knock also ranks just ahead of Salt's own 19-ball fifty against Pakistan.

The opening partnership was nothing short of dominant, as England reached 101 runs in just 6.1 overs. Buttler contributed a staggering 65 runs in the powerplay, with Salt adding a rapid 52 off 20 balls. This relentless assault left the South African bowlers reeling, with Kagiso Rabada leaking 27 runs in his first two overs and Lizaad Williams conceding 23 in just one over.

Buttler's individual powerplay score ranks fourth on the all-time list of runs scored in the first six overs of a T20I, placing him ahead of the likes of Quinton de Kock and Tim Seifert. The partnership also set a new record for England, as they posted 166 for 1 in the first 10 overs, surpassing the previous benchmarks set by teams like Australia, India, and Zimbabwe. Although Buttler eventually fell for 83, his explosive start set the stage for Salt to carry the momentum forward and complete his historic century, leaving South Africa with a daunting task.

Salt, who plays for RCB in IPL, ended up cracking an unbeaten 141 off 60 riding on 15 fours and 8 sixes to help England post 304/2, which is the highest-ever T20I total by a full-member nation.