FORMER Somerset wicketkeeper/batsman Jos Buttler smashed a blistering 129 from just 77 balls as England thrashed New Zealand by 210 runs at Edgbaston yesterday (Tuesday).

Former King’s College pupil Buttler, who now plays for Lancashire, hit 13 fours and five sixes to record the second fastest ODI century by an Englishman from 66 balls – five balls short of breaking his own record, set against Sri Lanka in May of last year.

Buttler’s knock also helped England to 408-9 - their highest ever score in ODI cricket – and a record-breaking winning margin.

Earlier, Joe Root (104) scored an impressive century of his own from 78 balls, before a minor collapse saw England up against it at 202-6.

But Buttler - whose family live in Wedmore – and Adil Rashid (69) combined to propel England to remarkable total and set up a landmark victory for Eoin Morgan’s side.