Buttler Stars As England Win Dubai ODI Series

England coach Trevor Bayliss is hoping the one-day international series victory over Pakistan will act as a springboard for Twenty20 World Cup success.

Jos Buttler was the undisputed star of England's series-clinching win over Pakistan, hitting a century from just 46 balls - the fastest in England's one-day international history and joint seventh on the world list.

England's 3-1 triumph, after being beaten by six wickets in the first match, also included outstanding performances from openers Alex Hales and Jason Roy.

Each hit maiden ODI centuries, and every batsman in the top six has passed 50 during the series.

Buttler (116no) broke his own record of 61 balls, smashing eight fours and eight sixes, and his knock is the joint-seventh fastest century in ODI history.

Jason Roy (102) scored a maiden one-day international century earlier in the innings, in a 140-run partnership with Joe Root (71) for the second wicket.

Bayliss believes it is a success which demonstrates England's white-ball potential - with the ICC World Twenty20 a high-profile assignment to come in India in March.

He added: "It's great to win away from home, especially on the sub-continent against a team like Pakistan who are playing in conditions they know very well.

"They should have a lot of confidence from the way they've played, going into the three Twenty20 matches - knowing they can play in these conditions against this quality of opposition.

"It's another step on the way to that World Cup in March and April."

Pakistan, chasing a massive 356 to win and square the series, made a good fist of things in reply with Babar Azam (51 off 51 balls) and Shoaib Malik (52 off 34) firing quick-fire fifties, while captain Azhar Ali lead from the front with 44 from 32 when opening the batting.

David Willey (2-34) did the early damage for England with the ball, while spinners Adil Rashid (3-78) and Moeen Ali (3-53) each took three wickets despite leaking runs, as Pakistan were dismissed for 271.

Eoin Morgan earlier won the toss for the third time in the series, and once again decided to bat first, a decision rewarded by a fifty partnership between England's openers.

Alex Hales (22) look more fluent than Roy to start with, making his dismissal in the 12th over, top-edging Mohammad Irfan (2-64), all the more disappointing - Malik taking a terrific catch at third man.

Roy soon found his feet, as he and Root particularly punished some poor spin bowling from Pakistan, although Roy was dropped off Yasir Shah when on 77 - first slip failing to grab the chance after a deflection off the wicketkeeper.

Root brought up his 11th ODI fifty in the 32nd over with the second of two sixes off Malik (0-59). Roy's hundred came soon after, but so did his wicket, in the 36th over, when attempting to launch Yasir (1-57) over long-on but his shot not having the legs to clear the fielder.

Pakistan captain Azhar (2-27) picked up his first ODI wicket seven balls later, Root stumped when looking to play an expansive reverse-sweep, while Morgan fell in the same fashion when charging down the track to the part-time leg-spinner at the on-set of the final 10 overs.

England scored 129 from those final 10 overs with Buttler - promoted up to four in the order after the visitors' strong start - bringing up his first fifty from 30 balls, and second off just 16, with some monstrous shots into the legside, and his usual array of cheeky ramps and reverse-ramps behind square.

James Taylor (13) perished in the deep when looking to clear long-on off Irfan, but Buttler reached his hundred with three sixes off Anwar Ali (0-75) in the penultimate over as England posted 355-5.

Azhar got his side off to a terrific start as Pakistan's top order set about England's seam attack - Reece Topley coming in for particular punishment, conceding 39 from his first four overs.

Willey took two wickets in two overs to dismiss Ahmed Shehzad (13) - caught at deep midwicket - and the Pakistan captain, caught-and-bowled, to emphasise England's dominance.

But Mohammad Hafeez (37 off 36) and Babar put on 65 together for the third wicket and even after the former fell, run out again, Malik hit a couple of huge sixes to keep England concerned.

But Rashid picked up crucial middle-order wickets of Babar, Mohammad Rizwan (11) and Sarfraz Ahmed (24), while Topley came back well to pick up the key wicket of Malik as Pakistan slipped from 176-3 to 249-7 between the 26th and 36th over.

Moeen then looked after the tailenders as England secured a 3-1 series win by dismissing Pakistan 84 runs short after 40.4 overs.