Malan and Buttler share world record in England vs South Africa

Newlands (Cape Town): David Malan and Jos Buttler launched a savage assault on South Africa's bowlers as England completed a series with a nine-wicket win in the third and final Twenty20 international at Newlands in Cape Town on Tuesday.

Malan, Man of the Match, finished on 99 not out, while Buttler was unbeaten on 67.

They had 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.

"Those guys played unbelievable innings, they put our bowlers under a lot of pressure," said Quinton de Kock, wicketkeeper and home captain.

Malan said that it was nice to get a bit of momentum at the start. He hit two fours and a six off the first four deliveries he had faced.

England's captain Eoin Morgan said that the pitch he had played was far better than he had expected at the toss, because he had anticipated a low-scoring match.

Malan hit as many as 11 fours and five sixes in his 47 ball innings. Buttler faced one ball fewer and hit three fours and five sixes.

Players of England were always well up with the required rate but put themselves in total command in the 10th and 11th overs when they hit 21 and 19 runs off Lutho Sipamla and Tabriaz Shamsi.

Sipamla, replaced the injured Kagiso Rabada and played his first match since the last South African season, was thrashed for 45 runs off 2.4 overs.

Left-arm wrist spinner Shamsi conceded 57 runs off four overs, two days after taking three for 19 in the second match in Paarl.

The teams always meet in a three-match one-day international series, starting at the same venue on Friday.

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