Record-breaking Buttler Gives England to Series Win

Jos Buttler leaps for joy after crashing a 46-ball hundred in Dubai

Dubai: Jos Buttler hit England's fastest one-day international century to lead them to an 84-run win over Pakistan in Dubai and a 3-1 series victory.

Buttler reached three figures in 46 balls, beating the 61-ball hundred he made against Sri Lanka in May 2014.

The wicketkeeper hit 10 fours and eight sixes in his 116 not out from 52 balls as England posted 355-5.

Pakistan briefly threatened a thrilling chase, but were bowled out for 217, with Moeen Ali taking 3-53.

Buttler's effort is the joint-seventh fastest in the history of ODI cricket and is the quickest made against Pakistan.

He has now scored the three fastest England centuries in the 50-over game, along with a 66-ball hundred against New Zealand in June.

That was Buttler's last score of 50 or more in all international cricket, a run of poor form that saw him dropped from the Test side for the third match against Pakistan this month.

The record for the fastest hundred in ODIs is the 31-ball effort of South Africa's AB de Villiers made against West Indies in Johannesburg in January this year.

Buttler's display of devastating hitting was all the more remarkable considering he did not arrive at the crease until 36th over.

Promoted to number four after England were given a solid start by Jason Roy's maiden international century (102) and Joe Root's 71, the right-hander wasted little time in signalling his intentions, slog-sweeping Shoaib Malik for six from only the 10th ball he faced.

Brute force over the leg side was a feature of the 25-year-old's innings, with six of his eight sixes clearing the ropes in the direction of deep mid-wicket.

He also showed flashes of ingenuity, playing scoop and ramp shots, as well as one incredible reverse-sweep for four off the pace of Anwar Ali without needing to move his feet.

Anwar was again the bowler when Buttler moved to a century with his third six in four deliveries.

In all, he hit 17 of the last 34 balls he faced to the boundary and went from 50 to 100 in only 16 deliveries as England added 129 runs in the last 10 overs.

Buttler stole the show, but his star turn was crammed into a 15-over period of an entertaining series finale.

Right-hander Roy overcame some early frailty outside off stump to reach his first ODI hundred in his 15th match, an innings that accelerated with straight and on-drives.

Support came from Root, who was at his free-scoring best until he fell seven runs after Roy was caught at long-off. That was part of a brief Pakistan period of pressure, one which halted by Buttler's brilliance.

Still, on a pitch perfect for batting, the hosts showed the will to chase their huge target, with captain Azhar Ali making 44 from 32 balls, Babar Azam a run-a-ball 51 and Malik most impressive for a 34-ball 52.

However, wickets fell too regularly for the hosts to ever be truly in contention. Mohammad Hafeez was run out in calamitous circumstances and almost all of the rest holed out.

In the end, what is only England's third ODI series win since February 2013 was sealed in comfort.

Brief scores
England - 355/5 (Buttler 116*, Roy 102)
Pakistan - 271 (Malik 52, Azam 51, Ali 3-53, Rashid 3-78)
Result- England won by 84 runs
MOM and Man of the series - Jos Buttler (England)