Buttler's stunning 50-ball ton helps England edge out Pakistan in 2nd ODI

Buttler, who recently became father of a newborn baby, made a 'rocking the baby' gesture to celebrate bringing up a century. It was the second fastest century by English batsman in One-Day-Internationals

Jos Buttler's stunning 50-ball century powered England to a 12-run victory against Pakistan in the second one-day international at Southampton on Saturday as they took a 1-0 in the five-match series. Batting first, Buttler’s 110 not out featured nine sixes and such was he in command that it took him mere 18 balls to score his second fifty. For Pakistan, opener Fakhar Zaman (138) stayed in the hunt before a target of 19 off the last over, but got bowled by Chris Woakes as Pakistan finished on 361 for seven. Buttler, who recently became father of a newborn baby, made a 'rocking the baby' gesture to celebrate bringing up a century. It was the second fastest century by English batsman in One-Day-Internationals. Together with England captain Eoin Morgan (71 not out) he shared an unbroken partnership of 162. It was an encouraging display by the World Cup hosts just a few weeks from the start of the tournament and further proof of their progress as an ODI side. Saturday's total was the 35th time since their miserable first-round exit at the 2015 World Cup that England, now top of the ODI rankings, had posted a total in excess of 300 -- a feat they had achieved only 34 times in total prior to that tournament. A Pakistan attack missing the ill Mohammad Amir took a pounding, with Hasan conceding 81 runs from his maximum 10 overs and Afridi 80.