Boom-boom Buttler is a class apart
Peerless Jos sinks Sri Lanka in style
Jos Buttler claimed his century against sri lanka was among his best international innings after england overcame the worst of the conditions and an injury to tymal Mills to all but qualify for the t20 World Cup semi-finals.
on a pitch where no one else surpassed 40, Buttler struck a century of such skill and class it was hard to imagine a better innings at this World Cup — unless, that is, Buttler plays it himself.
He did it when england needed him most, rescuing them from midinnings stagnation and hurrying them to a total — 163 for four — that proved too many for sri lanka. only a mathematical freak show can deny eoin Morgan’s team a place in the semi-finals.
‘It’s right up there,’ said Buttler after hitting a superb 101 not out from 67 balls. ‘to put in a performance at a World Cup, where they’re all must-win games — I’m delighted to come through it. At times, I was finding it tricky, but I used all my experience to stay patient. I trusted it would come.’
As if that wasn’t enough, Buttler pulled off a brilliant run-out in the field at a tense stage of a gutsy sri lankan chase. Moments earlier, Jason roy and sub fielder sam Billings had combined superbly on the boundary to catch Wanindu Hasaranga and snuff out a dangerous sixth-wicket stand of 53 with his captain Dasun shanaka.
Buttler all but ended sri lanka’s hopes, discarding his right glove before collecting the ball and throwing down the stumps with shanaka stranded.
england were defending a total for the first time in the tournament, which meant their bowlers faced a constant struggle to grip the ball as the dew took hold during sri lanka’s chase.
‘It can certainly change the conditions,’ said Buttler. ‘It’s a great win for us as a team. the three matches before, we’ve won the toss and done what we wanted to do.
‘today, we were at the worst end of the conditions, so it shows the character of the side. one of the bowlers getting injured, and others stepping up and bowling some overs at tough times. What that will do for us as a side is fantastic.’
the last five wickets fell for eight as england — the first team to win a floodlit game in this tournament after being put in to bat — made it four out of four.
As they left the field, Buttler was shoved out in front of the huddle, and walked off to the applause of his beaming team-mates. It was an accolade full of warmth and awe.
the moment he became england’s fourth t20 centurion — after Alex Hales, Dawid Malan and liam
livingstone — and the first to reach three figures in all three international formats was a magnificent piece of theatre.
Buttler had 95 when he failed to score off the fourth and fifth balls of the last over of the innings from sri lanka quick Dushmantha Chameera. But the final delivery was an inviting full toss, and Buttler gratefully helped it over backward square for his sixth six.
It had taken him 67 balls. He removed his helmet, raised both arms to the night sky, and embraced his partner, Moeen Ali. He seems to be touching new heights every time he picks up the bat.
His captain, Morgan, added: ‘I thought Jos played one of his best ever innings in an england shirt. It was incredible to be at the other end and just watch the ebb and flow, and then just the sheer domination at the end. He really is one of the best in the game, a privilege to play with and great to have in our team.’
on saturday in Dubai, Buttler eviscerated Australia in different circumstances, as england chased down a small total and the ball skidded nicely on to the bat.
Here, batting first for the first time in the competition on the slowest pitch of the uAe’s three venues, the innings was grinding to a halt. After ten overs, england were 47 for three, with Hasaranga and Maheesh theekshana, sri lanka’s spinners, unhittable.
Morgan, especially, was making it look that way as he laboured to ten off 21 balls. But he carted seamer lahiru Kumara over longoff for six, before Buttler pummelled two more in the over.
england were up and running, and by the time Morgan was bowled by Hasaranga for 40 off 36,
the fourth-wicket stand had added 112 in 13 overs.
Buttler’s World Cup record now reads 214 runs for once out off 139 balls. If anyone else pips him to the player of the tournament award, they will have to do something out of the ordinary.
He and Morgan combined again in the first over of the chase to run out Pathum nissanka, before Adil rashid outfoxed Charith Asalanka and Kusal Perera.
At 76 for five in the 11th, Sri Lanka looked dead and buried.
But the evening dew required England to dry the ball furiously after every delivery, and Morgan had to recalibrate his plans when Mills pulled up halfway through his second over with a quad injury. England must now decide whether he can play any further part in the competition after hurting himself.
Bit by bit, Hasaranga and Shanaka chipped away. But when Hasaranga lofted Livingstone to deep extra cover, roy ran round the boundary from long-off and nailed a relay catch with Billings, who had arrived from deep midwicket.
Then came Buttler’s final contribution. For the second time in the evening, he had taken the wind from Sri Lankan sails.
England will go into their final group game against South Africa on Saturday not just hoping for more, but expecting it, too.