Pakistan v England, 2015-16

At Dubai, November 20, 2015 (day/night). England won by 84 runs. Toss: England.The fickleness of form had seldom been more starkly illustrated than in Jos Buttler's fortunes on this tour. Dropped from the Test team a couple of weeks earlier, he rediscovered his touch in spectacular fashion, paving the way for England's 3-1 series win with an imperious 46-ball century. He sliced a full 15 deliveries off his own record for the fastest one-day hundred for England, set against Sri Lanka at Lord's 18 months earlier, having also scored the next-quickest,off 66 balls, against New Zealand at Edgbaston in June. Roy hit a century too, his first in international cricket, and a total of 355 for five was England's highest overseas, surpassing 340 for six against New Zealand at Napier in 2007-08. Buttler's final tally of 116 not out from 52 balls included eight sixes, the most by an England batsman in a one-day innings (Andrew Flintoff hit seven against West Indies at Lord's in 2004).But even the statistics did scant justice to his strokeplay. He seemed to make use of all 360 degrees, with powerful drives back over the bowler's head, ramps over his own, and sweeps of every description. Having zipped to 50 from 30 balls, he needed only 16 more to reach his hundred, with a six - his third in four deliveries -over midwicket off Anwar Ali. Buttler had come in with England already well placed, on 194 for two, after Roy had demonstrated there was more to his game than quick starts, and as parkling run-a-ball 71 from Root. The last ten overs yielded 129. Pakistan raced off in reply and, while Shoaib Malik was compiling a 31-ball half-century, an unlikely pursuit remained alive. But a superb diving catch from Hales, running in from midwicket, ended his flurry, and the spinnersdid the rest.
Man of the Match:J. C. Buttler. Man of the Series:J. C. Buttler.