And a maiden Test century looked a realistic possibility before he was undone by the guile of Nathan Hauritz for 72, playing inside the line of a delivery which went straight on to strike off stump.
With 22 needed from the final two overs Butt struck an exquisite six over extra cover off Mills and added two fours in the final over, bowled by Butler, but lost the strike by taking a bye off the penultimate delivery.