PHIL YER BOOTS HARRY!

Salt happy to let England captain play lead role to crush the Kiwis

- BY DAVID CHARLESWORTH in Christchurch

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

Brook thumped 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.

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.

Doing so might have harmed his hopes of a fifth T20 ton - equalling the world record held by Rohit Sharma and Glenn Maxwell - but Salt had no regrets.