England rewrote the record books on 13 September by becoming the first Test-playing nation to score 300 runs in a T20 International. The feat came in the second T20I against South Africa at Old Trafford, Manchester, where Jos Buttler and Phil Salt delivered a brutal display of power-hitting.
Put in to bat after South Africa won the toss, England launched an assault from the very start. Captain Buttler struck a blistering 83 from 30 balls, including 8 fours and 7 sixes at a strike rate of 276. Salt, meanwhile, produced the highest score by an England batter in T20Is, remaining unbeaten on 140 from 59 deliveries with 15 fours and 8 sixes. Their opening stand of 126 runs in just 7.5 overs set the tone for a historic innings.
Harry Brook added late fireworks with 39 not out from 20 balls as England closed on 304 for 2 – eclipsing their previous best of 267 for 3 against West Indies at Tarouba in 2023. The total also made them the first full-member side to reach the 300 mark in men’s T20Is.
Salt, who had already held England’s second-highest T20I score of 119 against West Indies in 2023, now tops the list outright. His innings, coupled with Buttler’s explosive cameo, underlined England’s aggressive batting template that continues to redefine the format.
Highest innings totals in men’s T20 Internationals
Zimbabwe – 344/4 v Gambia, Nairobi (Ruaraka), 23 October 2024
Nepal – 314/3 v Mongolia, Hangzhou, 27 September 2023
England – 304/2 v South Africa, Manchester, 13 September 2025
India – 297/6 v Bangladesh, Hyderabad, 12 October 2024
Zimbabwe – 286/5 v Seychelles, Nairobi (Gym), 19 October 2024
