Amla’s unbeaten 47 was the cornerstone of South Africa’s 77 for five in a match reduced to nine overs when play started more than two hours late because of rain. England, who defend their World Twenty20 title in Sri Lanka later this month, were 29 for two off 4.1 overs when a fresh downpour forced the players from the field for the last time. A minimum of five overs had to be completed in England’s innings for either side to win this match, with the hosts needing to have scored 13 more runs off the five balls to have won under the D/L method.
Earlier, after England captain Stuart Broad won the toss, South Africa’s Richard Levi fell first ball when a glance off Steven Finn was caught down the legside by wicket-keeper Craig Kieswetter. But Amla, rested from the team that won by seven wickets at Chester-le-Street on Saturday, showed the form that had seen him score a combined 817 runs at an average of over 116 in the preceding Test and One-Day series.
In reply, England were three for one when Kieswetter was brilliantly caught by a diving Robin Peterson after skying Dale Steyn. Luke Wright, in after England dropped Ravi Bopara, made 14 before he hooked a bouncer from Albie Morkel, his only ball of the match, to the bowler’s brother Morne at deep backward square leg.
South Africa, the world’s top-ranked Twenty20 side, remain 1-0 up in this three-match series ahead of today’s finale at Edgbaston.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 12th, 2012.
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