6.05pm: Phew. I told you it would be a squeaker, didn't I! That's the ODI series done with, but Australia do have the chance to salvage some pride with a one-off T20 next week, before India rock up for the summer's main event. For a few days, though, England can bask in only the second ODI 5-0 sweep in their history. Dan Brettig's report is in the slot and waiting to be dispatched over long-on; Gnasher and I will be back for more soon enough. Thanks for your comments, that's a wrap for today. Cheerio, folks!
5.45pm: We've been richly entertained today, though it probably won't cheer up Australia or their captain Tim Paine much to know they contributed to a thriller. England thought they had it won with the ball, threatened to throw it away with the bat... but in the end, it was the Buttler with the Kookaburra in the middle that did it.
Anyway, let's shake out those shoulders. Time for the presentations, starting with Jos Buttler, who is named both Man of the Match and Man of the Series: [Sweeter victory after that?] "Yeah it does, we were determined to come and and try and win 5-0, we bowled well but didn't quite do it with the bat. We just needed a partnership, once of the great strengths of this side is the depth in the batting, we kept chipping away, knew that if we got through the tricky periods we'd get out the other side. [Ball at the end?] I did say if it's two we'll run and then charged down first ball, but great guts to see out those balls. [Where prefer to bat - starting with T20 on Weds?] It's enjoyable when you're playing well, just hoping for another win."
Australia captain Tim Paine: "That one stung, we've been taught a lesson from a world class outfit. [Anything you could have done differently?] We could have got a couple more wickets, we had them under pressure, Rashid and Jos played well and we didn't get enough balls in the right area. When we've been under pressure we haven't produced. We bowled a touch wide, but they played outstandingly well. [Was 205 enough?] I thought we were in trouble at halfway, our bowlers came out and committed really well to what we spoke about. But again, once we're under pressure, we folded, if we're honest. Today we saw Alex Carey and D'Arcy Short play really well after the senior players let us down, Billy Stanlake and Ashton Agar showed some real talent. [Captaincy, wicketkeeping, etc?] It's been difficult, but that goes with the job. When I came back in the Test side I tried to enjoy it, I probably let the pressure of this series get to me a little bit, if I'm honest."
England captain Eoin Morgan: "Massive positives to take, when times are tough and not enough of us have turned up, we bat all the way down the order and it means only one of us has to come off. Today Jos was quite mesmerising, playing with the lower order, we're very proud of what he did. He's come back form the IPL having dominated, he's forced his way back into the Test team, and he's a key part of our white-ball team. [Pleased to win or disappointed with manner?] We'd be naive to think we shouldn't ask questions, fact we won is a bonus, but we have to be honest about hew we went about it. That performance is not what we want to replicate. The bowling has come a long way, the game at Trent Bridge was pretty special and how we fought back today was awesome. [Crowd happy with 5-0] Great atmosphere, fantastic support in Manchester, thanks for coming out and being absolutely brilliant, our 12th man today."
5.35pm: That is one of the great one-day innings from Jos Buttler, his sixth hundred and undoubtedly the one he has sweated most over. He leapt and punched the air as the ball disappeared to the rope, having almost single-handedly bailed out his side; England's next-highest score was 20! Credit to Adil Rashid for playing sensibly during a ninth-wicket stand worth 81 - although his blip threatened to give Australia a way back in - but that one goes on Buttler's mantelpiece. It's the first time Buttler has face 100 balls in an ODI, and what a day to do so. From 27 for 4, 50 for 5 and 114 for 8, England somehow clawed their way over the line to seal their first five-match series sweep over Australia.
"Australia really missing Starc here to clean up the tail!" parps Aman Ajmani. Yeah, he wouldn't mess about here
Two needed, Marcus Stoinis to bowl. His last ball was clubbed way back over long-on for six...
END OF OVER:48 | 3 Runs | ENG: 204/9 (2 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 4.25, RRR: 1.00)
- Jos Buttler106 (119b)
- Jake Ball1 (10b)
- Kane Richardson9-0-51-3
- Ashton Agar10-2-34-1
Rakesh: "THAT"S ASTONISHING from Butler. With 4 required to draw level and 5 to win, he chooses to take a single off the first ball of the over and expose the No:11 batsman to Australia's wicket taking fast bowler of the day. Very poor cricket & game sense one must say." Well, it worked... just about
"Jos Buttler, the whole of England is with you!" gulps John
Ball exposed again, England still needing four... Was that a fatal miscalculation from Buttler? He didn't need to run
Five still needed, Kane Richardson to bowl. How does Buttler play this...?
END OF OVER:47 | (maiden) | ENG: 201/9 (5 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 4.27, RRR: 1.66)
- Jake Ball0 (6b)
- Jos Buttler104 (117b)
- Ashton Agar10-2-34-1
- Marcus Stoinis8-0-33-2
"What a difference the next few minutes could make to teams' morale for the future!" gasps Frank. Well, it's a dead ODI... but what the heck!
Just one slip in
Agar with one over left... The field in tight. "Edgbaston 2005 anyone?" yips Karthik
END OF OVER:46 | 7 Runs 1 Wkt | ENG: 201/9 (5 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 4.36, RRR: 1.25)
- Jos Buttler104 (117b)
- Jake Ball0 (0b)
- Marcus Stoinis8-0-33-2
- Ashton Agar9-1-34-1
More drama here, England suddenly tensing up with the line in site. Jake Ball out but the batsmen crossed
AU Rashid c Stanlake b Stoinis 20 (47b 0x4 0x6) SR: 42.55
"Allowing Lyon to bowl throughout this partnership was a major mistake as Lyon never bowled an attacking or wicket taking line but a defensive line and THAT was a blunder which allowed these two to score runs slowly & steadily," screeches Rakesh, huffily