CBIRMINGHAM, England, - Jos Buttler's quickfire 32 not out provided the platform for England to beat South Africa by 28 runs in the third and final Twenty20 international at Edgbaston on Wednesday.
Victory saw World Twenty20 champions England, who head to Sri Lanka on Thursday to defend the title they won in the Caribbean two years ago, square this three-match series at 1-1 with one no result.
Most of Buttler's runs, in a match reduced by rain to 11 overs per side, came in a costly ninth over worth 32 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.
England made five for 118 - with man-of-the-match Buttler facing just 10 balls including three sixes and two fours.
South Africa, who were never up with the rate, finished on five for 90.
Opener Craig Kieswetter made 50 off 32 balls with three sixes and three fours and together with Buttler, whose previous England best was 13, he put on 48 in 14 balls.
South Africa fast bowler Morne Morkel's third ball of the match was a huge wide that sped past Proteas captain and wicket-keeper AB de Villiers on its way to the fine leg boundary, with 16 runs in all coming off the first over.
But South Africa pulled things back in the second over when Parnell bowled recalled opener Michael Lumb middle stump.