Buttler cameo squares series

Cricket365
September 13, 2012

It's not often a single over decides the outcome of a match, but Jos Buttler's demolition of Wayne Parnell, which saw 32 runs scored, gave England the impetus and they defended their 118 for five by 28 runs in Birmingham.

The Proteas ended their knock in the final T20 on 90 for five, and at no point looked like chasing the 119 required The runs that took the score past their capabilities in 11 rain-reduced overs came from the flashing blade of Buttler in the penultimate over of England's innings.

Buttler took Parnell apart with three massive sixes and two fours in the 10th over, not helped by the bowler overstepping twice, as the batsman bagged 30 of the 32 runs on offer. Buttler ended the innings on 32 not out off 10 balls, and was awarded the Man of the Match for his efforts.

Sympathy had to go to England opener Craig Kieswetter, who on any other day would have been the stand-out player with his 50 off 32 balls, but he was handed the consolation prize of Man of the Series instead, as England drew the series level at 1-1 and regained the number one T20 ranking.

Rain delayed the start of the match by nearly two hours as the ground staff worked feverishly to clear the field of water, thus reducing the game to 11 overs per side. AB de Villiers won the toss and chose to bowl, and the night went downhill for him from there.

The first over of the England innings went for 16 runs, an omen of things to come, as Morne Morkel sent a massive wide down the leg side for four that not even a cordon keepers would have been able to stop.

Parnell bowled the second over and sent Michael Lumb's middle stump flying, and giving up only four runs. His second and final over saw him finish with figures of one for 37.

Luke Wright, Eoin Morgan and Jonny Bairstow all failed to reach double figures as Johan Botha bagged two wickets, highlighting the mistake of bowling Parnell at the death when the batsmen were troubled by the slower bowling. Lesson for Sri Lanka learnt.

South Africa's chase never got off the ground as Richard Levi found his bails removed by Tim Bresnan for one. Hashim Amla, again the Proteas top scorer, made 36 valiant runs before falling, the wicket slowing and the England bowlers doing well to slow the ball even further.

Jacques Kallis and Albie Morkel were in the middle at the end, unbeaten but not successful as they failed to push the run rate to the 11 required before their team even started batting.