Buttler’s 131, Brook’s 95 Power England to Record 257/3 Against India

Sent in to bat after losing the toss, England launched a relentless assault on the Indian bowling unit. Buttler led the charge with a spectacular 131 off 64 deliveries, anchoring the innings with 12 boundaries and 8 towering sixes. The captain reached his century off just 51 balls, bringing up the milestone with a six off Axar Patel in the 16th over.

At the other end, Harry Brook made India pay dearly for an early defensive lapse. Dropped by Shivam Dube on 3 runs in the sixth over off Prince Yadav, Brook capitalized on the life line to blast a 19-ball half-century. He narrowly missed out on a well-deserved hundred, remaining unbeaten on 95 off 45 balls, inclusive of 4 fours and 8 sixes.

The Buttler-Brook duo systematically dismantled the Indian attack, constructing a blistering 103-run partnership off just 50 balls through the middle overs. The onslaught peaked between the 11th and 15th overs, which yielded 78 runs. Young bowler Suryansh Hegde was taken apart for two sixes and a four in the 14th over, while Prince Yadav conceded a sequence of 4, 6, 6, 4 to Buttler in the 15th.

Despite late wickets, the damage was securely done as England cruised past the 250-mark to set India a daunting 258-run target.