Dawid Malan admits ‘I didn’t know how it would go down if I turned down a single’ as he unselfishly finishes one run shy of a century after inspiring England to T20 series whitewash over South Africa
- Dawid Malan starred as England wrapped up series whitewash over South Africa
- Malan hit an unbeaten 99 to help England win T20 match with 14 balls to spare
- He unselfishly finished one run short of a second short-form century on Tuesday
Dawid Malan powered England to a 3-0 Twenty20 series win over South Africa here on Tuesday night but unselfishly finished one run short of a second short-form century.
Malan, the top-ranked T20 batsman in the world, was criticised by Eoin Morgan when he made a hundred against New Zealand in Napier last year for seeming to protect his not-out status rather than attempt a single off the last ball.
But here he hit the winning run as England beat South Africa’s 191 for three with nine wickets and 14 balls to spare, to finish on 99 not out.
Dawid Malan powered England to a 3-0 Twenty20 series win over South Africa on Tuesday
Malan unselfishly finished one run short of a second short-form century as he hit a brilliant 99
‘I knew there was five to win and then I hit a four and I didn’t know how it would go down if I turned down a single,’ said Malan, with captain Morgan listening close by, before joking: ‘I’ll have to go back to maths class.’
Jos Buttler provided support for Malan with an unbeaten 67 as England wrapped up the series whitewash.
Jason Roy however fell cheaply again – this time to the pace of Anrich Nortje – and will need a score in the one-day international series that begins here on Friday.
But Malan, Chris Jordan, Jofra Archer, Ben Stokes and Sam Curran will head for home knowing they have played their part in a Twenty20 job well done.
Malan joked about going back to maths class as Eoin Morgan listened close by after the match