England v Sri Lanka, 2014

At Lord's, May 31. Sri Lanka won by seven runs. Toss: England.
England were all but out of it when Buttler joined Bopara at 111 for five in the 29th over. Plainly unconcerned by his side's predicament, Buttler proceeded to smash his first one-day international hundred, the fastest by an England batsman - or by anyone at Lord's. He then modestly played down his prospects of a Test debut. Buttler had taken just 61 deliveries to reach three figures, eclipsing Kevin Pietersen's 69-ball century at East London in 2004-05. Come the last over, England - having been set 301 - needed 12. But Malinga is not often bested at the death: having persuaded Jordan to hole out to long-on from the second delivery, he ran out Buttler, for 121 off 74 balls, from the fourth.

Buttler's glorious failure meant Sri Lanka squared the series for the second time, yet the game will be remembered for his genius - he lofted Kulasekara over extra cover for six twice in successive balls, and turned singles into twos with harum-scarum running, putting on 133 in 16.2 overs with Bopara. But their partnership also highlighted the failings of a top order, which had gone 130 deliveries without a boundary. That England had so many to chase was due mainly to a beautifully controlled century from Sangakkara, his first in all cricket at Lord's. After taking 13 balls to get off the mark, he added 172 with Dilshan and reached his 19th one-day international hundred from 95 deliveries. Only twice had England chased down more than 300; the expressions of relief on Sri Lankan faces at the end confirmed just how close they had come to making it a third.
Man of the Match: J. C. Buttler.