England defeated India by 56 runs at Southampton on Saturday, taking the top spot in the T20 world rankings after a 4-0 series sweep thanks to Jos Buttler’s first international century in three years.
In a scorching innings of 131, the 35-year-old Buttler, one of England’s all-time great white-ball batters, smashed eight sixes.
During an England record partnership in the format of 233 with skipper Harry Brook, who hit 95 not out, Buttler scored his second T20 international century. At this level, the hosts’ score of 257-3 was their second-highest.
In a game where the start was postponed due to tourists becoming stopped in traffic, India’s chances of avoiding a whitewash were now virtually gone.
Ishan Kishan scored 56, but Sam Curran’s 3-36 put an end to India’s 201-8 victory as England triumphed over the T20 world champions once again.
“I am obviously delighted. It’s been a little bit of a lean patch for a while. I am really happy to get back to my best and contribute to a brilliant series win. In the IPL (Indian Premier League) I played good and felt good about my game, but there’s something different about coming back into an England shirt,” AFP quoted Buttler as saying.
India captain Shreyas Iyer added: “There’s a lot to take from this series. The conditions, the awareness…Fielding plays a key role in winning matches. This is one aspect we need to work on.”
Virat Kohli, who has already retired from Test and Twenty20 international cricket, may play his final series in England when the countries play a three-match, one-day international series beginning in Birmingham on Tuesday.
Fans eager to witness teenage batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in action after India’s delayed arrival learned the 15-year-old had been benched.
Buttler drove over mid-on for the opening six of the game, making ensuring there were plenty of batting fireworks to amuse the spectators.
When Shivam Dube lost the flight of a skyed opportunity, Brook was dropped on three. With consecutive sixes off Prince Yadav, the England skipper made India pay. Buttler pulled Axar Patel over square leg for six to finish a spectacular 51-ball century.
Iyer caught Buttler at mid-off for 131 after Dube hit consecutive sixes. Brook scored an unbeaten 95.
Sanju Samson, Sooryavanshi’s replacement, chipped Curran’s first delivery to Jacob Bethell as he fell for 27 after pulling Josh Tongue for two sixes.
Alongside Kishan, Iyer scored 55 for the third wicket before being removed by spinner Liam Dawson. Kishan reached fifty, but any remaining Indian aspirations of winning were dashed when he was dismissed by Phil Salt’s outstanding catch on the run from deep midwicket off leg-spinner Adil Rashid.
In an unforgettable game for England’s wicketkeeper, Tilak Varma scored 53 but was one of Buttler’s three catches.
