Jos Buttler has been at his brutal best in the three-match ODI series against the Netherlands, further underlining exactly why he is the best white ball batter in the world right now.
Buttler finishes the series as the joint leading run scorer alongside Phil Salt, having scored a total of 248 runs. In the first ODI, Buttler struck a scintillating 162 off just 70 balls, England's second-fastest ODI hundred and the second-fastest 150 in ODI history.
He did not bat in the second ODI, but finished the series in style as he struck 86 off 64 balls to guide England to victory in the third ODI. In fact, Buttler was not dismissed at all and ends the series without an average as a result.
And in a moment which truly underlined his dominance, he took 26 runs off an over from veteran Gloucestershire seamer Paul van Meekeren. Having already been hit for 12 off the first four deliveries, Van Meekeren was feeling the pressure and appeared to try and outfox Buttler with an attempted slower ball bouncer.
However, it all went horribly as the ball came out all wrong, looped down the leg side and bounced twice. Buttler promptly shuffled across and dispatched it into the stands.
To make matters worse, the fact it bounced twice meant it was a no ball and Buttler proceeded to smash the resultant free hit down the ground for another six. Speaking on commentary, Brian Murgatroyd said: "Goodness me, no mercy from Jos Buttler.
"The ball stuck in Paul van Meekeren's hand and Jos Buttler said 'Thank you very much, I'm having some of that'. He's hit that a long, long way. The easiest six he'll ever have in international cricket. And the free hit is on its way to Amsterdam city centre!"
It was the perfect day for Buttler, who filled in as England skipper after Eoin Morgan was sidelined by a groin injury. Speaking after the win, he said: "Another great victory. I thought we played really well with the ball to restrict them, picked up wickets at crucial times and it was a brilliant batting display again.
"There's a lot of cricket coming up in a short space of time which is very exciting. We've got great depth in the squad with more guys standing up on this trip and pushing up the competition in the squad which is just what we want to see."
