Sports

4th ODI: Buttler’s innings was one of the best I’ve seen, says Cook

England captain praises teammate’s maiden century despite losing to SL.

Afp June 01, 2014 1 min read

Buttler broke the equivalent Lord’s ground record of 82 balls for an ODI hundred that had stood since 1975. PHOTO: AFP

LONDON: England captain Alastair Cook said Jos Buttler did not deserve to be on the losing side after his stunning century so nearly led to a remarkable win over Sri Lanka.

Cook’s side were all but out of the contest in the fourth ODI at Lord’s when wicketkeeper-batsman Buttler came in with England 111 for five chasing a near-record 301 for victory.

Yet the 23-year-old Lancashire gloveman then proceeded to make a maiden ODI hundred off just 61 balls before falling in the final over.

Sri Lanka, who had posted 300-9, won by seven runs to level the five-match series at 2-2 ahead of Tuesday’s finale.

Buttler made 121, with 11 fours and four sixes, off 74 balls.

His actual century was the quickest, in terms of balls faced by an England batsman at this level, surpassing the 69 balls Kevin Pietersen took to make a century against South Africa at East London in 2005.

Buttler also broke the equivalent Lord’s ground record of 82 balls for an ODI hundred that had stood since 1975 when West Indies great Clive Lloyd made a memorable century during the inaugural World Cup final.

Together with Ravi Bopara (51), Buttler shared a sixth-wicket stand of 133 as he replied to an impressive century by opposing wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara (112) and the left-hander’s partnership of 172 with Tillakaratne Dilshan (71).

But England ultimately paid the price for a slow start with Chris Jordan caught in the deep and Buttler run out in the final over from Lasith Malinga.

“It’s a hell of an innings,” said Cook. “He doesn’t deserve to be on the losing side, playing like that. Having him coming in, you’re never out of the game.”

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews was equally impressed by Buttler’s century, saying: “Buttler played an unbelievable innings. He nearly rip us apart, and took the game away from us.”

However, Mathews added: “But we stuck to our plans, did the basic things right and won the match.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 2^nd, 2014.

Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.