Salt of the Earth

Opener sacrifices record bid to help brilliant Brook

- FROM DAVID CHARLESWORTH IN CHRISTCHURCH

PHIL SALT was happy to play second fiddle to Harry Brook in England's 65-run win against New Zealand in the second T20, even if it meant reducing his chances of reaching a significant milestone.

Brook was at his destructive best in Christchurch, thumping five sixes - three of which sailed out of the Hagley Oval - and six fours in his 78 off 35 balls, putting on 129 with Salt, who was no slouch himself.

The opener thrashed 85 off 56 balls to underpin England's 236-4, but he felt Brook was a level up in the power-hitting stakes and was glad to get his partner on strike once the Yorkshireman got going.

Doing so might have diminished his hopes of a fifth T20 hundred - equalling the world record held jointly by India’s Rohit Sharma and Australia’s Glenn Maxwell - but Salt had no regrets.