Buttler, Brook heroics secure 4-0 win and No.1 ranking

Jos Buttler and Harry Brook starred in the final T20I in Southampton on Saturday (July 11) as England beat India by 56 runs to seal a 4-0 series win and topple India from the No.1 spot in the ICC rankings.

India won the toss and opted to bowl first in the dead rubber. The first half of the Powerplay belonged to India as they kept runs in check and dismissed Phil Salt. But Buttler then unleashed trademark scoops and sixes, while Brook made India pay after being dropped on a top edge by Shivam Dube.

Buttler targeted Axar Patel in a 25-run over, bringing up his fastest T20I fifty. With nine wickets intact, the batters attacked relentlessly. Suryansh Shedge and Prince Yadav were taken to the cleaners as England reached 189/1 after 15 overs.

Buttler reached his century with a six off Axar. Dube dismissed Buttler (131) and Jacob Bethell off successive deliveries in the penultimate over but conceded three sixes and a four. Brook finished unbeaten on 95 as England posted 257/3, their highest total ever against India.

In the chase, Jofra Archer removed Abhishek Sharma early. Sanju Samson hit two sixes off Josh Tongue but fell to Sam Curran. Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer kept India alive, reaching 110 at halfway. But Shreyas fell after drinks, followed by Ishan (56). Tilak Varma hit a rapid fifty but the chase fizzled out as India finished on 201/8.

Brief scores: England 257/3 (Jos Buttler 131, Harry Brook 95*) beat India 201/8 (Ishan Kishan 56, Tilak Varma 53; Sam Curran 3-36) by 56 runs