BUTTLER ADDS INSULT TO INJURY FOR AUSSIES
You could probably have written the script. A recordbreaking innings from Jos Buttler and an Australian defeat, their sixth out of six on a dismal tour.
Mercifully for them, it is over. England, on the other hand, are now eyeing India — and what a series that could be.
The Indians, who warmed up by winning the first of two Twenty20s in Ireland, will not be such supine guests. Just as they did at Trent Bridge last week, Australia invited England to bat on a perfect strip.
on that occasion, Eoin Morgan’s team responded with a 50-over world-record 481 for six. Here, they smashed 221 for five — their highest T20 score against Australia, and their second-highest against anyone.
on a glorious Birmingham night which rendered the floodlights all but redundant, they provided their own illuminations, hitting 24 fours and ten sixes.
Australia needed more than 11 an over from the start, and only when Aaron Finch was battering 84 from 41 balls were they even vaguely competitive. The margin of defeat was 28 runs.
Jason Roy had got England off to a flyer with three fours in Billy Stanlake’s first over, but he was soon watching in admiration from the nonstriker’s end as Buttler set about the bowlers as if settling a personal grudge.
When Buttler creamed Stanlake over extra cover for an extraordinary six, then flicked him fine for four, he had a half-century from 22 balls — a record for England in Twenty20 cricket.
The only surprise came when he dragged a halftracker from debutant legspinner Mitchell Swepson straight to deep midwicket. But, at present, 61 off 30 balls from Buttler is just another day at the office.
Roy made 44 from 26 balls, and Eoin Morgan — who promoted himself to No3 — reverse-paddled Swepson to make it 132 for three.
Alex Hales was caught and bowled for 49 by Marcus Stoinis, who stuck out a hand and was surprised to find the ball had lodged there after Hales had played a forehand smash more suited to SW19.
At the other end, Joe Root was doing his best to justify going in ahead of Jonny Bairstow but his innings of 35 off 24 was less convincing in the flesh than on paper.
Australia needed something special but were 72 for five and in danger of annihilation. But Finch was determined to restore a bit of swagger.
He carted six sixes, including 22 off an over from Moeen, and England breathed again when Jordan judged a catch on the long-on boundary to perfection to end the mayhem.