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Jos Buttler’s first international century in three years powered England to an emphatic 56-run victory over India at Southampton on Saturday as they took over at the top of the T20 world rankings after completing a 4-0 series clean sweep.The 35-year-old Buttler, one of England’s all-time outstanding white-ball batsmen, was in superb form as he struck eight sixes in a blistering innings of 131.Buttler’s second T20 international hundred came during an England record partnership in the format of 233 with captain Harry Brook, who made 95 not out. The hosts made 257-3 - their second-highest total at this level.India’s hopes of avoiding a whitewash, in a match where the start was delayed after the tourists got stuck in traffic, were all but over at the break between innings.Ishan Kishan made 56 but India ended on 201-8 after left-arm swing bowler Sam Curran took 3-36 as England completed another commanding win over the T20 world champions.The teams will now contest a three-match one-day international series starting in Birmingham on Tuesday in what could be a last campaign in England for India batting great Virat Kohli, who has already retired from Test and T20 international cricket.Following India’s late arrival, fans hoping to see teenage batting star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in action discovered the 15-year-old had been dropped.Buttler ensured there were plenty of batting fireworks to entertain the crowd, driving over mid-on for the first six of the match. Brook was dropped on three when Shivam Dube lost the flight of a skyed chance.  SUCCESSIVE SIXESThe England captain made India pay with successive sixes off Prince Yadav. Buttler completed a 51-ball century in style by pulling Axar Patel over square leg for six.After successive sixes off Dube, he was caught by Iyer at mid-off for 131. Brook had settle for 95 not out. Sooryavanshi’s replacement, Sanju Samson, pulled Josh Tongue for two sixes, but chipped Curran’s first ball to Jacob Bethell as he fell for 27.India captain Shreyas Iyer put on 55 for the third wicket alongside Kishan, but was dismissed by spinner Liam Dawson.Kishan made fifty but his exit to a brilliant catch from Phil Salt, on the run from deep midwicket, off leg-spinner Adil Rashid, ended any lingering India hopes of victory.Tilak Varma made 53, but was one of three catches taken by Buttler in a memorable match for England’s wicket-keeper.England captain Brook said yesterday: “We had a lot of fun. Ran well, hit boundaries and complemented each other. We’ve got ourselves to World No. 1, which was a game after a couple of games. All boys are delighted and we deserve to celebrate.” BRIEF SCORESEngland 257 for 3 (Buttler 131, Brook 95*) beat India 201 for 8 (Kishan 56, Tilak 53, Curran 3-36) by 56 runs

Southampton have been kicked out of the Championship playoffs after being found guilty of spying on semi-final opponents Middlesbrough, the English Football League said on ‌Tuesday.Middlesbrough, who lost 2-1 to Southampton in the two-legged ​semi-final, have been re-instated ‌and will now face Hull City on Saturday in ‌what is ⁠dubbed the ‌world's richest football match.Promotion to ‌the Premier League is estimated to be worth in the region ⁠of 200 million pounds ($268.10 million) over three seasons. Southampton, who admitted the charges, were also found guilty of filming training sessions involving Oxford United in December and Ipswich Town in April during the regular season. They have also been deducted four points for the start of next season in England's second tier."An Independent ​Disciplinary Commission has today expelled Southampton from the Championship play-offs after the club admitted multiple breaches of EFL regulations related to the unauthorised filming ‌of other clubs' training," the ⁠EFL said."Southampton ​admitted breaches of Regulations requiring Clubs to act with ​the utmost good faith and prohibiting the observation of another Club's training session within 72 hours of a scheduled match. The effect of today's order is that Middlesbrough are reinstated into the 2026 play-offs and will proceed to the play-off final against Hull City. The final remains scheduled for Saturday 23 May, with the kickoff time to be confirmed."The EFL confirmed that Southampton could appeal against the decision and that "parties are ‌working to try and ‌resolve any appeal on May ⁠20. "Subject to the outcome, it could result in a further ⁠change to Saturday's fixture," ⁠the statement said.Middlesbrough had called for Southampton's expulsion after having a training session filmed ahead of the first leg of their playoff semi-final with Southampton which ended 0-0.The club said it welcomed the decision. "We believe this sends out a clear message for the future ​of our game regarding sporting integrity and conduct," Middlesbrough said in a statement. "As a club, we are now focused on our game against Hull City at Wembley on Saturday."Southampton were relegated from the Premier League last season and were struggling in the early part of this campaign until a storming finish in which they went unbeaten in 19 league games to finish fourth and enter ‌the playoffs. 

Liverpool manager Arne Slot blasted Hugo Ekitike for a stupid sending-off after tapping home a winner against Southampton in the League Cup on Tuesday and then removing his shirt in celebration. The Frenchman, who replaced record signing Alexander Isak at half-time, had been booked already for kicking the ball away in frustration and the second yellow five minutes from time left Liverpool defending a 2-1 third-round lead with 10 men.Liverpool captain Andy Robertson told said it was a stupid thing to do when on a yellow card and Slot doubled down afterwards. “I think it’s also stupid if you haven’t had a yellow card yet,” he said.“Maybe I’m a bit old-fashioned, maybe a bit old school, but I did score a few goals – not at this level – as well and if I maybe outplay three players, which I never did, and then hit it in the top corner, then maybe you can say ‘oh, this is all about me.’“But if I had to score a goal like he did tonight, I would have turned around and walked up to Federico Chiesa and would say ‘It’s all about you, Federico. Great assist, great run and I didn’t have to do a lot’. It was stupid, not smart in every sense... he’s now suspended for Saturday and that is far from ideal.”Ekitike later apologised on Instagram: “The emotion got the better of me tonight,” he said. “My apologies to all the Red family...”League leaders Liverpool, with a 100% record so far this season, have a tricky away trip to unbeaten Crystal Palace next in the league. Slot fielded a completely changed starting lineup on Tuesday from the side that played Everton on Saturday, with Isak starting and scoring his first goal for the club.“It wasn’t our best performance, which probably has a lot to do with players that haven’t played for a long time or for the first time,” he said. The manager said Isak would get increasing game time, with Liverpool trying to build him up faster than usual, but did not expect him to be fully up to speed until after the next international break.Club World Cup champions Chelsea suffered an early scare at third tier Lincoln City but came back from a goal down at half-time to win 2-1 with teenager Tyrique George equalising in the 48th and providing the assist for Facundo Buonanotte’s 50th-minute winner.League One (third tier) Cardiff City provided the upset of the eight games on the programme by beating top flight Burnley 2-1 at Turf Moor. Premier League bottom side Wolverhampton Wanderers won their top flight clash 2-0 against Everton, who had James Garner hit the bar with a second-half free kick and Jack Grealish coming off the bench.Paraguayan midfielder Diego Gomez scored four, including a 24-minute first-half hat-trick, as Premier League Brighton & Hove Albion thumped third tier Barnsley 6-0 at Oakwell to reach the fourth round for the fifth time in six seasons. Second tier Wrexham gave their Hollywood owners another home night to savour by beating Reading 2-0, with Nathan Broadhead scoring both – his first for the Welsh side who go through to the fourth round for the first time since 1977.Premier League Fulham beat fourth tier visitors Cambridge United 1-0 at Craven Cottage with Emile Smith Rowe scoring the 66th-minute winner. Championship side Swansea City and fourth tier giantkillers Grimsby Town are already through to the fourth round along with Premier League Brentford and Crystal Palace.