Buttler and Brook sparkle as England goes top of T20 rankings with clean sweep over India

SOUTHAMPTON, England (AP) — Jos Buttler and Harry Brook led the way with swashbuckling batting displays as England went top of the T20 rankings after beating India by 56 runs on Saturday to take the five-match series 4-0.

Buttler hammered 131 in 64 balls and captain Brook made 95 not out in 45 deliveries to propel England to 257-3, its third highest T20 total and highest against India.

“We've managed to get ourselves to No. 1 in the world, which was the aim after the second game,” player of the series Brook said after his side restricted India to 201-8 in reply.

It rained sixes at the Utilita Bowl as he and Buttler shared a memorable second-wicket stand of 233, England's highest for any wicket in a T20.

India, which opted to rest 15-year-old batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after the teenage sensation failed to make an impact in the three previous games, was made to pay for deciding to bowl first after winning the toss.

Buttler made a welcome return to form by smashing 8 sixes and 12 fours as he charged to his second T20 international century. Brook continued his excellent series, which began with the opening match being abandoned due to bad weather, by clubbing 8 sixes and 4 fours.

Shivam Dube took two late wickets, including Buttler's, but his solitary over cost 22 runs.

“It’s been a little bit of a lean patch for a while,” Buttler said. “It was a great day for me personally and a great day for the team. I am really happy to get back to my best and contribute to a brilliant series win.”

India, displaced by England at the top of the rankings, had a mountain to climb to reach its target and made a poor start when opener Abhishek Sharma was removed for 3.

Ishan Kishan struck a 35-ball 56 while Tilak Varma raced to 53 in 25 deliveries but India was always behind the run-rate. All-rounder Sam Curran took 3-36 and leg-spinner Adil Rashid picked up 2-24.

“There’s a lot to take from this series," India captain Shreyas Iyer said. "The conditions, the awareness, the adaptations to the wicket.

“Of all the grounds we played on, this was probably the best. The approach to our batting was different today.”

The two teams begin a three-match series of one-day internationals in Birmingham on Tuesday.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

England's Jos Butler plays a shot during the international T20 Cricket match between England and India In Southampton, England, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Anthony Upton)

England's Jos Butler, right is congratulated by teammate Harry Brook after hitting a six during the international T20 Cricket match between England and India In Southampton, England, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Anthony Upton)

England's Harry Brook, left, and Jos Buttler during the international T20 Cricket match between England and India in Southampton, England, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Anthony Upton)

England's Jos Buttler plays a shot during the T20 international cricket match between England and India in Southampton, England, Saturday July 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Anthony Upton)

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian attacks on Ukraine killed six people, including a child, and wounded 29, officials said on Saturday, adding that Ukrainian forces damaged more than two dozen Russian tankers and other vessels in the Sea of Azov.

The exchange came as Ukraine’s drones have lately been hitting oil refineries and other infrastructure across Russia to undercut its war effort, triggering a widespread fuel crisis with gasoline shortages. Moscow has responded by intensifying its bombardment on Kyiv and other cities, exposing Ukraine’s vulnerability to ballistic missile strikes.

Ukraine’s General Staff said 21 tankers used to transport oil and petroleum products were damaged overnight, in addition to four tugboats, two cargo ships and a dredging vessel. Russian officials said one person was killed in the Ukrainian drone strikes and that only four ships came under attack.

In Ukraine's northeast Sumy region, four people were killed, including a child, and 17 people were wounded when two aerial glide bombs hit a crowded area where civilians were present, said Sumy regional head Oleh Hryhorov.

Eleven people, including one child, were wounded in missile and drone attacks overnight on Kyiv, the State Emergency Service reported. In the southern region of Odesa, two people were killed after a Russian missile struck a building, said regional head Oleh Kiper. Another man was wounded by shrapnel.

Explosions and fires were reported across Kyiv’s Solomianskyi, Darnytskyi and Dniprovskyi districts, the emergency service said.

Russia launched 12 missiles, including six ballistic missiles, along with 121 drones against Ukraine overnight, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. He said most of the drones and some of the missiles were shot down, but the ballistic missiles reached their targets, reiterating Ukraine's dire air defense gaps.

Ukrainian air defenses said they shot down or electronically suppressed two missiles and 111 drones. The air force said direct hits were recorded at 11 locations.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said its forces targeted drone production facilities in Kyiv, as well as the ports of Izmail and Chornomorsk in the Odesa region.

The ministry also said Russian air defenses destroyed 178 Ukrainian drones overnight over eight Russian regions, as well as over the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula and the Black and Azov seas.

Follow the AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

In this photo provided by Ukraine's 93rd Kholodnyi Yar Separate Mechanized Brigade press service, a Ukrainian serviceman unloads a ground drone that carries ammunition, water, and provisions in the frontline town of Druzhkivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine Friday, July 10, 2026. (Iryna Rybakova/Ukraine's 93rd Mechanized Brigade via AP)

In this photo provided by Ukraine's 93rd Kholodnyi Yar Separate Mechanized Brigade press service, a Ukrainian serviceman watches an FPV drone in the frontline city of Druzhkivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine Friday, July 10, 2026. (Iryna Rybakova/Ukraine's 93rd Mechanized Brigade via AP)

In this photo provided by Ukraine's 93rd Kholodnyi Yar Separate Mechanized Brigade press service, Ukrainian servicemen patrol a street in the frontline town of Druzhkivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine Friday, July 10, 2026. (Iryna Rybakova/Ukraine's 93rd Mechanized Brigade via AP)

A sapper examines the impact site of a Russian missile in a residential area of Kyiv, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Dan Bashakov)

A sapper examines the impact site of a Russian missile in a residential area of Kyiv, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Dan Bashakov)