Jos Buttler leads from the front as England target series whitewash

England’s bid for a series clean sweep was hampered by rain in Canberra

Jos Buttler smashed 65 not out off 41 balls (Getty Images)

Jos Buttler’s 65 not out off 41 balls carried England to 112 for two in their final T20 against Australia, which has been reduced to 12 overs per side because of rain at Canberra.

England’s bid for a series clean sweep after back-to-back wins since arriving Down Under ahead of their T20 World Cup campaign was hampered by downpours that reduced this contest to 17 then 12 overs each.

Buttler hammered seven fours and a six, upping the ante after the second delay in an unbroken 49-run stand alongside Ben Stokes, whose unbeaten 17 off 10 balls is his highest contribution of the series.

Alex Hales was dismissed for a second-ball duck as Josh Hazlewood angled one in to induce the outside edge while Dawid Malan toe-ended a Pat Cummins off-cutter to depart for 23 off 19 deliveries.

But Buttler, watchful at first after taking four off his first 10 balls, was England’s linchpin as Australia were set 130 under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method to claim a consolation win.