07/11/26 01:23:00
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07/11 13:22 CDT Buttler and Brook sparkle as England goes top of T20 rankings
with clean sweep over India
Buttler and Brook sparkle as England goes top of T20 rankings with clean sweep
over India
SOUTHAMPTON, England (AP) --- Jos Buttler and Harry Brook led the way with
swashbuckling batting displays as England went top of the T20 rankings after
beating India by 56 runs on Saturday to take the five-match series 4-0.
Buttler hammered 131 in 64 balls and captain Brook made 95 not out in 45
deliveries to propel England to 257-3, its third highest T20 total and highest
against India.
"We've managed to get ourselves to No. 1 in the world, which was the aim after
the second game," player of the series Brook said after his side restricted
India to 201-8 in reply.
It rained sixes at the Utilita Bowl as he and Buttler shared a memorable
second-wicket stand of 233, England's highest for any wicket in a T20.
India, which opted to rest 15-year-old batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after the
teenage sensation failed to make an impact in the three previous games, was
made to pay for deciding to bowl first after winning the toss.
Buttler made a welcome return to form by smashing 8 sixes and 12 fours as he
charged to his second T20 international century. Brook continued his excellent
series, which began with the opening match being abandoned due to bad weather,
by clubbing 8 sixes and 4 fours.
Shivam Dube took two late wickets, including Buttler's, but his solitary over
cost 22 runs.
"It's been a little bit of a lean patch for a while," Buttler said. "It was a
great day for me personally and a great day for the team. I am really happy to
get back to my best and contribute to a brilliant series win."
India, displaced by England at the top of the rankings, had a mountain to climb
to reach its target and made a poor start when opener Abhishek Sharma was
removed for 3.
Ishan Kishan struck a 35-ball 56 while Tilak Varma raced to 53 in 25 deliveries
but India was always behind the run-rate. All-rounder Sam Curran took 3-36 and
leg-spinner Adil Rashid picked up 2-24.
"There's a lot to take from this series," India captain Shreyas Iyer said. "The
conditions, the awareness, the adaptations to the wicket.
"Of all the grounds we played on, this was probably the best. The approach to
our batting was different today."
The two teams begin a three-match series of one-day internationals in
Birmingham on Tuesday.
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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
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