Record-breaking Jos Buttler was the star of the show again as England inflicted yet another defeat on Australia in the one-off T20.
Buttler, pushed up to open at a sun-drenched and near sold-out Edgbaston, followed the brilliant match-winning century which completed England’s historic 5-0 one-day international whitewash of their Ashes rivals by this time hitting their fastest Twenty20 fifty.
He bettered Ravi Bopara’s 23-ball half-century, also against Australia in Hobart four years ago, by racing to his in 21 as England piled up 221 for five – their highest total in this format on home soil – before defying a lone-hand from Australia captain Aaron Finch (84) to close out a 28-run win.
Finch matched Buttler almost shot for shot, taking 27 balls for his 50, and hitting five sixes in 11 balls at one point as Moeen Ali bore the brunt – but he could not quite haul his team back from 72-5 as Adil Rashid (3-27) and then Chris Jordan (3-42) enforced home advantage.
Australia’s short white-ball trip therefore finishes without an international success as England proved their masters for a sixth time in 14 days.
Buttler (61) wasted no time vindicating his promotion to the top of the order, for only the second time in his Twenty20 international career, by bagging six fours and five sixes with his unique blend of power and improvisation.
Alex Hales was no slouch either, dropped down to number four and responding with 49 from 24 balls.
Buttler and Jason Roy got England off to a superb start in an opening stand of 95 in under nine overs, after Australia had put them in.
Both then went in quick succession, Buttler caught at deep mid-wicket as he tried to pile into a short ball from leg-spin debutant Mitchell Swepson and Roy – who had been badly dropped by Kane Richardson at long-off on 27 off Ashton Agar – skying Billy Stanlake into the leg-side ring.
Jos Buttler now has the fastest ever England T20I 50, in his first game as new long-term opener. He opened once before, and made 73*
— Tim (@timwig) June 27, 2018
Eoin Morgan promoted himself above Hales, but his wristy reverse-hit at Swepson merely found the hands of deep point.
It therefore fell to Hales to keep up the momentum, in a stand of 72 with Joe Root, which ended when Hales fell in bizarre circumstances – slapping a slower bouncer back to Marcus Stoinis’ first delivery of his solitary over for a memorable one-handed return catch.
Jonny Bairstow strode out to administer two late maximums, though, and it seemed from the outset of Australia’s reply that they were up against it.
When Liam Plunkett made quick work of D’Arcy Short – stabbing a pull into the hands of short fine-leg – much depended on fit-again Glenn Maxwell.
But Jordan had the perfect delivery for him, fooling the big-hitter with a slower one which invited ambition but messed with the timing and hit off-stump.
Finch could not get on strike in a powerplay which amounted to 59 for two, and England’s spinners then took three more wickets for eight runs.
Australia’s captain could only watch from the other end as Travis Head was caught at long-on off Moeen and then, in Rashid’s second over, Alex Carey was bowled pulling and Stoinis picked out long-off with a flat hit without scoring.
Finch responded mightily, in a stand of 86 with Ashton Agar which more than doubled the score. But, when he was caught inches inside the long-on rope by Jordan off Rashid, England’s supporters could breathe easily again.
