Buttler hits 46-ball ton, England beats Pakistan in 4th ODI
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Wicketkeeper Jos Buttler smashed the fastest one-day international century by an England batsman as his team beat Pakistan by 84 runs in the fourth ODI on Friday to clinch the four-match series 3-1.
Buttler reached his 100 in just 46 balls and finished 116 not out in 52 deliveries, with 10 fours and eight sixes, as England scored a massive 355-5, helped also by 102 from Jason Roy in 117 balls.
Pakistan never looked like winning and was bowled out for 271 in 40.4 overs.
England spinners Adil Rashid (3-78) and Moeen Ali (3-53) shared six wickets.
Buttler's 100 was the seventh fastest in the history of the 50-over format and surpassed his own previous England-best effort of a 61-ball ton against Sri Lanka at Lord's last year.
South Africa's AB de Villiers hit the fastest ever ODI century in 31 balls against West Indies earlier this year.
Opener Roy had added 140 runs for the second wicket with Joe Root, who hit a run-a-ball 71 with three fours and two sixes. Roy got his maiden ODI century, then was out immediately after chancing himself against legspinner Yasir Shah and holing out to Babar Azam in the deep.
Buttler came in at the fall of Roy's wicket, with England at 194-2 in the 36th over.
After starting cautiously and moving to only 15 in 17 balls, Buttler's next 101 runs came in just 35 balls. He reached his century in the 49th over, when he lofted Azhar Ali for a six over mid-wicket.
He was later named man of the series and man of the match.
''It's amazing how cricket turns around,'' Buttler said. ''Only a few weeks ago, I had a bad test match here and got dropped from the side. So to come back here and have good day is really satisfying.''
Shoaib Malik top-scored for Pakistan with 52 in 34 balls before Alex Hales took a stunning diving catch at deep square leg off Reece Topley, while Azam contributed 51 in 51 balls.
Captain Azhar Ali chipped in with 44 and Mohammad Hafeez looked dangerous before attempting an impossible single and getting run out for 37.
The early damage was done by opening bowler David Willey (2-34), who got rid of Pakistan's openers.
A three-match Twenty20 series between the two teams starts Thursday in Dubai.
