Fifth T20I: England, 257-3, defeated India, 201-8, by 56 runs

Jos Buttler’s explosive 131 and Harry Brook’s unbeaten 95 guided England to a 4-0 series triumph over India, sealing a dominant performance in the fifth and final T20 international.

Cast your minds back to February 2022: the Partygate scandal was dominating headlines as details emerged of Boris Johnson’s surprise birthday celebration two years earlier, prompting the resignation of four senior advisers; Russia had just launched its “special military operation” in Ukraine; Adele swept the artist, song and album of the year prizes at the Brit Awards; and India had beaten the West Indies to climb to the top of the ICC T20 rankings.

Now, 1,601 days and two World Cup titles later, following a series of sobering defeats across Ireland and England, India have been dethroned. England, after two exceptional weeks, have risen to the summit of world cricket.

The series concluded in fitting fashion with England posting an extraordinary 257 for three – surpassing their own record, set in Mumbai in March, for the highest total ever scored against India in T20 internationals. Although India’s chase showed more spirit than their fielding, they could only muster 201, handing England victory by 56 runs and the series 4-0.

It was a punishing day for India’s bowlers. Buttler, who had gone 18 innings without a fifty in this format, delivered the innings of his career and the second-highest score by an Englishman, hammering 131 from just 64 balls. Brook remained unbeaten on 95, continuing his remarkable form – three of his six quickest T20 innings of 15 or more balls have come in this series. Their stand of 233 was England’s highest in T20s, the largest ever against India by a margin of 59, and the fifth-highest in all T20 cricket.

“When you go a long time without scoring runs you start to think the people in charge might be considering moving you on,” Buttler reflected. “In a strange way, that gave me a bit of freedom today – if I was going to fail, I’d do it my way. Days like this are incredible. I’ve missed that feeling – contributing to a series win, helping England win matches. I’ve missed just batting well, being in control. There are moments when you wonder if you’ll ever score another hundred for England, so to do it again feels fantastic.”

Both batters benefitted from India’s sloppy fielding in a display that was at times shambolic and, towards the end, almost comical.

Buttler had already reached three figures when Suryansh Shedge dropped a straightforward chance at deep midwicket with him on 101 from 52 balls. Brook was on just three when he skied Prince Yadav to deep third, only for Shivam Dube to misjudge the flight, overrun the ball and dive backwards in vain as it fell untouched. Brook, inevitably, struck the next two deliveries for six – and later returned the favour by dropping Dube in similar fashion.

Buttler was granted another life in the final over when Ishan Kishan spilled a simple catch, summing up India’s deteriorating fielding.

England’s 19th over turned farcical as Dube was introduced to bowl for the first time, with captain Shreyas Iyer having delayed his use as long as possible. Six poor deliveries yielded three sixes, a four and two catches in the deep.

By the close of England’s innings India looked resigned to defeat, yet as world champions they still showed some mettle. They kept pace with England early on, with Sanju Samson – recalled in place of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi – blasting 27 off 14 balls before chipping Sam Curran to cover point. With Abhishek Sharma dismissed for three, India reached the halfway point at 110 for two – one run fewer and one wicket more than England at the same stage.

However, Iyer miscued the first ball after drinks to point, and Liam Dawson’s over went for just five, marking the beginning of the end. Half-centuries from Kishan (56 off 35) and Tilak Varma (53 off 25) prevented total humiliation, though given India’s pedigree, the result was still deeply disappointing.

“It definitely hurts, but I think it’s a big learning experience for me as captain and for the players who are visiting here for the first time,” Iyer said. “You can’t come to England expecting to win – you have to put in the hard work and stay focused, which we did as a team. But I have to admit they were outstanding in all three departments, and that’s why the results went their way.”