Jos Buttler's quickfire 32 not out provided the platform for England to beat South Africa by 28 runs in the third and final Twenty20 international at Edgbaston on Wednesday. Victory saw World Twenty20 champions England, who head to Sri Lanka on Thursday to defend the title they won in the Caribbean two years ago, square this three-match series at 1-1 with one no result.
Opener Craig Kieswetter made 50 off 32 balls with three sixes and three fours and together with Buttler, whose previous England best was 13, he put on 48 in 14 balls. South Africa fast bowler Morne Morkel's third ball of the match was a huge wide that sped past Proteas captain and wicketkeeper AB de Villiers on its way to the fine leg boundary, with 16 runs in all coming off the first over. But South Africa pulled things back in the second over when Parnell bowled recalled opener Michael Lumb middle stump.
South Africa suffered an early setback when the big-hitting Richard Levi was bowled by Tim Bresnan for one. And they lost Faf du Plessis for eight when he became debutant left-arm spinner Danny Briggs's first Twenty20 international wicket, the Hampshire bowler deceiving him in flight as the batsman hit across the line and got a leading edge to mid-off. Briggs took 1 for 16 in two overs. But Hashim Amla, a thorn in England's side throughout this summer, was still there, having hit his 100th four of the season in all formats. After six overs South Africa were 51 for two, needing a further 68 runs from their final five overs for victory. However, Amla fell for 36, off 27 balls with six fours, when he slogged offspinner Graeme Swann to Jonathan Bairstow in the deep.
That left South Africa 53 for 4 off seven overs and in the next over, seamer Jade Dernbach conceded just two runs. From then on, there was no way back for the Proteas.
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