England win third T20 to level South Africa series

BIRMINGHAM: England beat South Africa by 28 runs in the third and final Twenty20 international at Edgbaston on Wednesday to end the series all square at 1-1 with one no result.

England, who will head to Sri Lanka on Thursday to defend the World Twenty20 title they won in the Caribbean two years ago, made 118 for five after rain reduced this floodlit fixture to 11 overs per side.

Craig Kieswetter made 50 but it was Jos Buttler's England best 32 not out off 10 balls that proved decisive during a quickfire stand of 48.

Most of Buttler's runs came in a costly ninth over worth 32 runs from left-arm quick Wayne Parnell.

It was the second most expensive over in Twenty20 international history after Yuvraj Singh struck England captain Stuart Broad for 36 runs made up of six sixes in Durban during the inaugural 2007 World Twenty20.

South Africa, who won the toss, were always struggling in reply and finished on 90 for five having won Saturday's opener in Chester le-Street by seven wickets before Monday's no result washout in Manchester. (AFP)