Dawid Malan and Jos Buttler launched a savage assault on South Africa’s bowlers as England completed a series clean sweep with a nine-wicke...
Dawid Malan and Jos Buttler launched a savage assault on South Africa’s bowlers as England completed a series clean sweep with a nine-wicket win in the third and final Twenty20 international at Newlands in Cape Town on Tuesday.
Man of the series Malan finished on 99 not out, while Buttler was unbeaten on 67.
They shared a world record T20 international second wicket partnership of 167 off 90 balls to make South Africa’s 191 for three look insignificant. England won with 14 balls to spare.
Rassie van der Dussen (74 not out) and Faf du Plessis (52 not out) set up South Africa’s biggest total of the series in an unbeaten partnership of 127 off 66 balls for the fourth wicket.
But the left-handed Malan was quickly into his stride when he joined Buttler after the dismissal of Jason Roy. By the end, South Africa looked a demoralised team.
“Those guys played unbelievable innings, they put our bowlers under a lot of pressure,” admitted home captain and wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock, who fumbled a return from fielder Temba Bavuma when Malan, on 36, was well out of his ground.
“It was nice to get a bit of momentum at the start,” said Malan, who hit two fours and a six off...
