Buttler blitz seals series win for England
A record ton from Jos Buttler and Jason Roy’s maiden One-Day International century helped England defeat Pakistan by 84 runs in the fourth and final ODI between both sides in Dubai on Friday (November 20), and therefore clinch the four-match series 3-1.
Buttler, when the fastest Englishman to an ODI ton reached the landmark off 61 balls against Sri Lanka at Lord’s in 2014, who held the record of being him, improved on his mark to reach three figures off 46 balls this time. Buttler’s effort additionally put him joint seventh in the record of fastest ODI centuries ever.
The wicketkeeper-batsman finished unbeaten on 116 off 52 balls to take England to a huge 355 for 5 – its greatest ODI score away from house – before walking off to a standing ovation from the bunch.
Pursuing the daunting goal, Pakistan began nicely, riding on a lively 45-run opening stand off 39 balls between Ahmed Shehzad (13) and Azhar Ali (44), the captain, but once both departed – in the seventh and ninth overs respectively – the required run rate began rising, and every batsman who followed was below the pressure of scoring immediately.
Finally, in the 41st over, Anwar Ali drove a Moeen Ali delivery direct to Rasheed at short cover, formally finishing Pakistan’s innings at 271 in 40.4 overs.
Moeen and Rasheed, the spinners, were the successful bowlers for England while David Willey (2 for 34) and Topley (1 for 58) chipped in.
Jos Buttler says his record-breaking century was "a long time coming".https://t.co/kztVcyorF5 pic.twitter.com/2NDaf9KLyy
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) November 20, 2015
Hales (22) dropped in the 12th over, caught off Mohammad Irfan’s bowling by Malik, Root and Roy took charge, hitting 11 boundaries and three sixes between themselves in their huge partnership.
Yasir finished off 117 balls with 102, an innings studded with eight fours as well as a six.
Root was dismissed by Azhar Ali in the next over with his legspin that was part time, and it was upto the likes of James Taylor, Eoin Morgan, and Buttler to construct from the strong stage they’d.
Buttler pulverised the Pakistan strike with some brilliant shots, combining the unorthodox as well as the audacious at a rate which was fast by Twenty20 standards.
Both sides will lock horns for a three-match T20 International show starting Thursday.
