Jos Buttler smashes 80, overtakes Rohit Sharma

Jos Buttler delivered a masterclass in power-hitting to propel England to a dominant win over Sri Lanka and etch his name deeper into the record books. The 36-year-old opener smashed a sublime 80 off 44 deliveries in the first T20I at Southampton on September 15, 2026, a knock that saw him overtake India's Rohit Sharma as the second-highest run-scorer in men's T20I history.

Buttler was in a destructive mood from the very start. He immediately targeted veteran Sri Lankan pacer Dushmantha Chameera, hammering him for four consecutive boundaries in the match's second over. That assault took him to 18 runs from just eight balls and set the tone for England's mammoth total of 254 for 4. His innings was a blend of timing and brute force, featuring eight fours and three sixes. Buttler reached his half-century in only 29 deliveries, forming a devastating 128-run partnership with captain Harry Brook off just 60 balls. He eventually fell in the 12th over with the score at 159, having provided the perfect launchpad for Brook's century.

With that innings, Buttler's career T20I run tally climbed to 4,292 runs from 161 matches. This moved him past Rohit Sharma's final tally of 4,231 runs. Pakistan's Babar Azam remains at the summit with 4,596 runs, leaving Buttler 304 runs shy of the top spot. This achievement caps a remarkable return to form for the wicketkeeper-batter. After a lean patch earlier in the year, he has now scored 211 runs from his last 108 balls in T20Is, a sequence that includes a blistering 131 against India in July.

While Buttler provided the explosive start, captain Harry Brook stole the show later with a breathtaking century. Brook remained unbeaten on 114 from 49 balls, reaching his hundred from just 42 deliveries. His relentless acceleration in the middle and death overs ensured England posted an imposing target. The pair's 128-run stand was a continuation of their prolific partnership, following a record 233-run union against India in England's previous T20I series. Sri Lanka's chase never gained momentum against a disciplined English attack, collapsing to 135 all out in 19 overs to lose by 119 runs.

Buttler's scintillating performance against Sri Lanka is no flash in the pan. He arrives at this series fresh from an outstanding campaign in The Hundred 2026, where he amassed 334 runs in 10 matches at an average of 55.66 and a strike rate exceeding 173. This rich vein of form, combined with his new-found consistency at the international level, makes him England's most dangerous weapon as they build towards future global events. The team's victory in Southampton was their fifth consecutive T20I win.

• Key Takeaways:
• Jos Buttler scored 80 off 44 balls against Sri Lanka on September 15, 2026.
• He surpassed Rohit Sharma to become the second-highest run-scorer in men's T20Is with 4,292 runs.
• His innings featured a brutal assault of four consecutive boundaries off Dushmantha Chameera.
• England won the match by 119 runs after posting 254/4, with Harry Brook scoring 114*.