England complete 4-0 T20I series win over India with 56-run victory

SOUTHAMPTON: Jos Buttler struck a rapid century and England's bowlers followed up with a disciplined display as the hosts beat India by 56 runs in the fifth T20I at the Rose Bowl on Saturday, sealing a 4-0 series victory after the opening match at Chester-le-Street was washed out.

Asked to bat first, England posted 257/3 in their 20 overs, built around a 233-run stand between Buttler and captain Harry Brook after an early setback. Phil Salt fell in the second over when Prasidh Krishna removed him with England on eight, but Buttler and Brook then took control with an aggressive second-wicket partnership.

The stand ended on the fourth ball of the 19th over when Shivam Dube dismissed Buttler, who top-scored with 131 from 64 balls. His innings included 12 fours and eight sixes. Dube then struck again in the same over to send back Jacob Bethell for a golden duck, while Brook remained unbeaten to the finish on 95 from 45 deliveries, hitting 12 boundaries, among them eight sixes.

For India, Dube returned figures of 2 for 22 in one over, while Krishna took 1 for 38 in four overs. The Buttler-Brook partnership was the second-highest for any wicket in a men's T20I involving full-member nations.

India fall short in chase

Chasing 258, India ended on 201/8 despite half-centuries from Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma, suffering their fourth straight defeat of the series against the reigning world champions. Kishan made 56 off 35 balls to lead the scoring for the tourists, while Varma hit 53 from 25 deliveries, including four sixes and three fours.

Only three other India batters reached double figures. Captain Shreyas Iyer scored 28, returning opener Sanju Samson made 27, and Dube added 14 as England kept control through the innings.

Sam Curran was England's most successful bowler with 3 for 36 in four overs. Adil Rashid claimed two wickets, while Liam Dawson, Josh Tongue and Jofra Archer took one each as England completed a commanding series result.