England Rewrite History Books In Manchester; Buttler And Co's Biggest Wins Explained

Jatin

England thumped South Africa by 146 runs [Source: AFP Photos]England thumped South Africa by 146 runs [Source: AFP Photos]

When England get into white-ball beast mode, they don’t just win games, they leave craters. Their latest mauling of South Africa at Old Trafford was proof that when the Three Lions roar, scoreboards shiver.

A 146-run thumping…that is not a win, that is an annihilation. England have pulled off some outrageous T20I hammerings over the years, but this one tops the lot. Let’s take a stroll down memory lane and take a look at England’s five biggest T20I wins by runs.

5. 95-run win vs New Zealand: Manchester, 1 September 2023

A packed Old Trafford watched Jonny Bairstow turn back the clock with a vintage knock. He finished unbeaten on 86 off 60 while Harry Brook blazed a 36-ball 67 to power England to 198/4. The ball disappeared to all parts and New Zealand were already wobbling mentally by the halfway mark.

The chase was a horror show. They slumped to 103 all out in 13.5 overs with Gus Atkinson ripping through them for 4/20. England sealed a 95-run win without even breaking a sweat as the Kiwis were outplayed and outgunned.

4. 100-run win vs Australia: Southampton, 13 June 2005

This was the birth of Bazball’s granddad. In just the second men’s T20I ever played, England ripped apart their oldest rivals. They posted 179/8, powered by cameos from Paul Collingwood (46 off 26) and Kevin Pietersen (34 off 18).

Then the bowlers went full hitman mode. Jon Lewis took 4/24, Darren Gough picked 3/16 and Australia were bundled out for 79 in 14.3 overs. A 100-run thrashing that announced England’s T20 arrival in bold letters and probably left a few Aussie egos needing therapy.

3. 116-run win vs Afghanistan: Colombo, 21 September 2012

This one was pure theatre. Luke Wright played the innings of his life, smashing an unbeaten 99 off 55 as England racked up 196/5 under the Sri Lankan lights.

Afghanistan were never really in it. Wickets fell like skittles as they limped to 80 all out in 17.2 overs. Stuart Broad, Samit Patel and Jade Dernbach took two each while Graeme Swann bagged 2/22. It was a 116-run stomping and England barely broke a sweat.

2. 137-run win vs West Indies: Basseterre, 8 March 2019

This one was a proper Caribbean wipeout. Sam Billings lit up the night with a jaw-dropping 87 off 47 and Joe Root anchored with 55 to post 182/6 on a spicy deck. West Indies didn’t just collapse, they evaporated. 

None of their top six crossed 10, and they were skittled for 45 in 11.5 overs, their lowest T20I total ever. Chris Jordan (4/6) ran through them like a hot knife through butter. England walked off with a 137-run win, looking like they had just finished a training drill.

1. 146-run win vs South Africa: Manchester, 12 September 2025

And here is the big one. The night England turned a T20I into a cricketing earthquake. Phil Salt played the knock of his dreams as he smashed 141 off 60* while Jos Buttler belted 83 off 30. England piled on 304/2, the kind of score that makes bowlers want to call in sick.

South Africa never stood a chance. They folded for 158 in 16.1 overs and England walked off with a 146-run win, their biggest in T20I history. This wasn’t a contest. It was a cricketing demolition job and Salt was holding the sledgehammer.