Breathtaking Buttler secures England their whitewash in one-wicket thriller
Billy Stanlake's pace knocked over England's top order, and when Adil Rashid arrived at No. 10 they still needed 92 but Buttler produced a great innings
Billy Stanlake's pace knocked over England's top order, and when Adil Rashid arrived at No. 10 they still needed 92 but Buttler produced a great innings
Scorer: Binoy George | Commentator: Alan Gardner
6.05pm: Phew. I told you it would be a squeaker, didn't I! That's the ODI series done with, but Australia do have the chance to salvage some pride with a one-off T20 next week, before India rock up for the summer's main event. For a few days, though, England can bask in only the second ODI 5-0 sweep in their history. Dan Brettig's report is in the slot and waiting to be dispatched over long-on; Gnasher and I will be back for more soon enough. Thanks for your comments, that's a wrap for today. Cheerio, folks!
5.45pm: We've been richly entertained today, though it probably won't cheer up Australia or their captain Tim Paine much to know they contributed to a thriller. England thought they had it won with the ball, threatened to throw it away with the bat... but in the end, it was the Buttler with the Kookaburra in the middle that did it.
Anyway, let's shake out those shoulders. Time for the presentations, starting with Jos Buttler, who is named both Man of the Match and Man of the Series: [Sweeter victory after that?] "Yeah it does, we were determined to come and and try and win 5-0, we bowled well but didn't quite do it with the bat. We just needed a partnership, once of the great strengths of this side is the depth in the batting, we kept chipping away, knew that if we got through the tricky periods we'd get out the other side. [Ball at the end?] I did say if it's two we'll run and then charged down first ball, but great guts to see out those balls. [Where prefer to bat - starting with T20 on Weds?] It's enjoyable when you're playing well, just hoping for another win."
Australia captain Tim Paine: "That one stung, we've been taught a lesson from a world class outfit. [Anything you could have done differently?] We could have got a couple more wickets, we had them under pressure, Rashid and Jos played well and we didn't get enough balls in the right area. When we've been under pressure we haven't produced. We bowled a touch wide, but they played outstandingly well. [Was 205 enough?] I thought we were in trouble at halfway, our bowlers came out and committed really well to what we spoke about. But again, once we're under pressure, we folded, if we're honest. Today we saw Alex Carey and D'Arcy Short play really well after the senior players let us down, Billy Stanlake and Ashton Agar showed some real talent. [Captaincy, wicketkeeping, etc?] It's been difficult, but that goes with the job. When I came back in the Test side I tried to enjoy it, I probably let the pressure of this series get to me a little bit, if I'm honest."
England captain Eoin Morgan: "Massive positives to take, when times are tough and not enough of us have turned up, we bat all the way down the order and it means only one of us has to come off. Today Jos was quite mesmerising, playing with the lower order, we're very proud of what he did. He's come back form the IPL having dominated, he's forced his way back into the Test team, and he's a key part of our white-ball team. [Pleased to win or disappointed with manner?] We'd be naive to think we shouldn't ask questions, fact we won is a bonus, but we have to be honest about hew we went about it. That performance is not what we want to replicate. The bowling has come a long way, the game at Trent Bridge was pretty special and how we fought back today was awesome. [Crowd happy with 5-0] Great atmosphere, fantastic support in Manchester, thanks for coming out and being absolutely brilliant, our 12th man today."
5.35pm: That is one of the great one-day innings from Jos Buttler, his sixth hundred and undoubtedly the one he has sweated most over. He leapt and punched the air as the ball disappeared to the rope, having almost single-handedly bailed out his side; England's next-highest score was 20! Credit to Adil Rashid for playing sensibly during a ninth-wicket stand worth 81 - although his blip threatened to give Australia a way back in - but that one goes on Buttler's mantelpiece. It's the first time Buttler has face 100 balls in an ODI, and what a day to do so. From 27 for 4, 50 for 5 and 114 for 8, England somehow clawed their way over the line to seal their first five-match series sweep over Australia.
"Australia really missing Starc here to clean up the tail!" parps Aman Ajmani. Yeah, he wouldn't mess about here
Two needed, Marcus Stoinis to bowl. His last ball was clubbed way back over long-on for six...
Rakesh: "THAT"S ASTONISHING from Butler. With 4 required to draw level and 5 to win, he chooses to take a single off the first ball of the over and expose the No:11 batsman to Australia's wicket taking fast bowler of the day. Very poor cricket & game sense one must say." Well, it worked... just about
"Jos Buttler, the whole of England is with you!" gulps John
KOB's Bengaluru heist, Razzaq's Sharjah steal, Miller magic in Durban. Where does Buttler's knock stand among these miracles?
An unprecedented 5-0 success over their oldest enemy suggests England are in prime form a year out from the World Cup
England were only chasing 206, but it looked like they were out of it until a spectacular century from Jos Buttler
The series was long-since won, but the most thrilling passage of play was left for the end as an incredible innings unfolded at Old Trafford
Australia's captain admitted his own position will come under scrutiny after the 5-0 defeat but retained belief in the future of the one-day side