South Africa level T20 series with victory over England in Cardiff

29.07.2022 - 11:46 bt.com

Jos Buttler’s hopes of landing a first series win since taking over as England’s white-ball captain will go all the way to the wire after a decisive turn from Rilee Rossouw saw South Africa square the T20 scoreline 1-1 with a 58-run win in Cardiff.

Buttler began his tenure by losing both formats to India and saw a 50-over decider against the Proteas washed out. Victory in the first T20 in Bristol on Wednesday gave England the chance to wrap things up on Welsh soil but they could not match Rossouw’s match-winning 96 not out.

The former Kolpak player, who traded six years of international cricket for a stable gig with Hampshire, hit five sixes and 10 fours to guide the tourists to 207 for three.

Having scored 234 in the previous match, England knew they could fight fire with fire but they faltered to 149 all out. The in-form Jonny Bairstow top-scored once again, but doing so with a score of 30 told its own story about a lethargic chase.

cricket England victory Jonny Bairstow Jos Buttler Quinton De-Kock Chris Jordan Moeen Ali Richard Gleeson South Africa India Jordan county Bristol

The Lord’s clock had already ticked past 1pm by the time Anrich Nortje turned to bowl the final ball of the morning, scowling his game-face scowl as he glanced up at Ben Stokes: a genuinely terrifying expression, the face of a man with a deep and irresolvable sense of injustice, who can also – did we mention this? – bowl 97mph chest-thudding in-duckers.

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