England beat Australia by 16 runs in close finish in ODI in Sydney thanks to Jos Buttler’s century

JOS Buttler smashed a sensational ton but was at the centre of controversy as England wrapped up the one-day series with two matches still to play.

Eoin Morgan’s power-packed side triumphed by 16 runs and sealed England’s first one-day series win Down Under since 2007.

Vice-captain Buttler produced a brilliant late-innings counter-attack as the tourists plundered 102 off the last ten overs and set Australia 303 to win.

Then just as the Aussies were getting on top in their run chase wicket-keeper Buttler athletically caught skipper Steve Smith one-handed off Mark Wood.

But there was doubt about whether mild-mannered Buttler had grounded the catch and it was only after a lengthy delay that Smith was sent on his way by TV umpire Kumar Dharmasena.

The 35,000 fans inside the SCG launched a chorus of boos and Smith, who had made 45, stormed off shaking his head.

Five overs later in-form Mitch Marsh, on 55, heaved leg-spinner Adil Rashid straight down the throat of Alex Hales on the long-on boundary, leaving the Aussies 210 for five with only 10.3 overs left.

Chunky all-rounder Marcus Stoinis kept Australia in the hunt with a brave half-century and a sixth-wicket stand of 74 with keeper Tim Paine.

But they were left with too much to do. Australia needed 30 off the last two overs and then 22 off the final one after a nerveless over from Mark Wood.

Woakes closed out the match and had Stoinis caught on the boundary by sub fielder Sam Billings.

England were severely hampered by the loss of burly paceman Liam Plunkett who pulled his left hamstring as he ran into bowl his eighth ball of the innings.

Earlier England’s batsmen struggled to get going having been put into bat by Smith.

When Moeen Ali was bowled by Marsh they had slumped to 189 for six with only 11 overs remaining.

But Buttler and all-rounder Chris Woakes joined forces to destroy Australia’s Ashes-winning pace attack in the final overs.

The Aussies had brought back big guns Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood to help out left-armer Mitchell Starc.

But Cummins conceded an astonishing 24 runs from the last with Buttler smashing two sixes and a four in successive balls.

Starc fared little better in the final over with Woakes hooking him for six.

Buttler took two from the final ball for an amazing hundred – his fifth for England and his slowest at all of 83 balls.

He and Woakes had smashed an unbelievable 102 off the final ten overs of the innings.