This was not the kind of night that leaves much room for debate. England beat India by 56 runs in the fifth T20 international at Southampton, sealed a 4-0 series win and, in the process, moved to the top of the world rankings. If anyone was still asking who will win today match, England made the answer painfully clear.
Jos Buttler was the headline act, and not by a small margin. His 131 from 64 balls gave England the sort of total that turns a contest into a chase against the clock, and India were always trying to stay in touch rather than ever looking in control. England finished on 257-3 from 20 overs, and once that number went up, the pressure on India was obvious.
That pressure never really lifted. India reached 201-8, which is not a collapse so much as a reminder that the target was simply too steep. There were useful efforts in the chase, but England had already done the damage with the bat. A 56-run margin in T20 cricket is decisive, and it underlined just how thoroughly England owned the evening.
Buttler set the tone, India could not catch up
Buttler's innings was the difference between a good total and an untouchable one. He struck the ball cleanly, kept the tempo high and gave England a platform they could build on all the way through the innings. Harry Brook also played his part, and after the match he said England had a lot of fun out there, bouncing off each other as they pushed themselves into the best position to defend a big score.
Brook also made it clear that England's target had already become a bigger one than just winning this match. According to him, England wanted to get themselves to number one in the world after the second game, and they did exactly that. This was not just a series win. It was a statement.
For India, the frustration is obvious. Shreyas Iyer admitted there was a lot to take from the series, especially in terms of conditions, awareness and adaptations to the wicket. He also said the approach to batting was different on the day and that professionals need to learn. That is fair enough, but it does not change the fact that England forced the lessons on them.
The series itself had already been shaped by the abandoned opener, but England still found a way to take control and never let go. From there, they won four straight and closed things out in style. With the two nations due to meet again in the first of a three-match ODI series at Edgbaston on Tuesday, this is a result that sets the tone properly. England are on top, and on this evidence they deserve to be there.
