England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler has moved into second place on the all-time men’s T20I run-scoring chart after passing Rohit Sharma during a 119-run victory over Sri Lanka at Southampton.
Buttler struck 80 from 44 deliveries, reaching his half-century in 29 balls, to elevate his career aggregate to 4,292 runs across 161 matches. He overtakes Sharma’s final tally of 4,231 runs, leaving Pakistan’s Babar Azam as the only batter ahead of him with 4,596 runs.
His scoring pace indicates he could swiftly bridge the remaining deficit to Azam while driving England’s momentum across the remainder of the series.
Record Stand With Harry Brook
The milestone arrived during a 128-run second-wicket partnership with Harry Brook, who finished unbeaten on 114 to help the hosts post 254 for four. Brook’s aggressive approach sets a top-order standard that international selectors seek to replicate, a dynamic influencing the impending India one-day squad selection.
Sri Lanka were subsequently bowled out for 135 inside 19 overs. Hampshire seamer Sonny Baker claimed three wickets for 12 runs. The fast bowler brings his domestic rhythm to the international stage after regularly challenging Kent’s leading run-scorers throughout the summer.
Baker told The Independent he was “just buzzing to have got off to a start in terms of (white-ball) wickets” following wicketless limited-overs debuts. Jamie Overton and Liam Dawson added two wickets each to seal the result.
The three-match series resumes in Cardiff on Thursday.
