The big hitter got his maiden ton against Australia with the last ball of an innings that was going nowhere until he came in - but ended with dreams of a whitewash to help banish the nightmare of England's Ashes debacle as the Aussies fell 16 runs short of the 302 target they had to chase.

Ably supported by a similarly inspired Chris Woakes who weighed in with an unbeaten 57, the pair of them shared a 113-run unbroken partnership in less than 12 overs that simply knocked the stuffing out of Aussies who did exactly the same to the Test team not so long ago.

And man of the match Buttler then took the controversial catch that sent Steve Smith packing.

That came after he had smashed four super sixes in an innings that had virtually everything. Woakes wasn't far behind with a couple of lusty sixes of his own - plus the early wicket of David Warner when the dispirited Aussies launched their reply.

All of which begged the question: who needs Ben Stokes when you have a number 6 and a number 8 like these two? 

What a great day for England after Smith emphasised the 'win at all costs' nature of this one beforehand by turning all his big guns on them again.

Pat Cummins returned from his rest along with Josh Hazlewood to join Mitchell Starc in the sort of attack that blitzed England out of sight in the Ashes.

There rarely looked any likelihood of that happening, but the quality of the bowling was such that Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow were never going to get off to the flyer they did in Melbourne, either.

Nor was Roy going to get the sort of innings he got there, dismissed for 19 when Cummins tempted him into a lofty cover drive that Aaron Finch caught comfortably.

And it got worse soon afterwards when Alex Hales went for 1, caught by Adam Zambia off Marcus Stoinis. At 45/2 on a flat pitch it was not looking good.

Enter Joe Root after collecting his 100th ODI cap from Rugby legend Sam Burgess in a pre-match ceremony, and with the job of steadying the ship again.

He looked to have succeeded until partner Bairstow lost patience - and his wicket - trying to give Adam Zappa the heave ho after a 39-run knock that was solid rather than spectacular.

To be honest the Australians ought to have nabbed another in the nineties when Eoin Morgan enjoyed the luck of the Irish dragging a ball from Starc just centimetres wide of his stumps.

Phew was the only word for that one, and at this point the average score of 301 at Sydney was looking a little optimistic - especially when Root failed to play saviour again making just 27 in what was for him a less than productive 56 minutes at the crease.

Hazlewood got the wicket the Australians desperately wanted - and England looked as if they were faltering.

The Aussies had their tails up and if ever there was a time for Captain Morgan to lead from the front and deliver a big innings, this was it. England were in need of a big score from someone.

To be fair, Morgan and Buttler set about the task with relish, knocking up a 50-run partnership in 45 minutes, even though Smith and co made England fight for every run with tight bowling and fielding that bordered on athleticism.

But that big knock continued to elude Morgan when Hazlewood tempted him to dabble at one and he edged a relatively simple catch to Tim Paine, out for 41 when a lot more was almost certainly needed.

That task fell to Moeen Ali, next in and sorely needing something to boost his confidence after making a top score of only 40 in the Test series and dismissed by a beauty from Starc for just one in the last ODI.

He also had luck on his side, skying a dreadful shot when he was on just two. But somehow Cameron White, with all the time in the world, let the ball slip through his fingers. What a let off.

That didn't last for long, though. Another rush of blood saw Ali try to belt a ball from Mitchell Marsh over to Tasmania; missed it completely, and consequently strolled off a disconsolate figure with only six runs to his name.

England seemed thankful when Buttler reached his 50 off a similar number of balls, in what was for a him a relatively patient 84 minutes. But they needn't have worried.

Brilliant Buttler and wonderful Woakes saw to that with a scintillating unbroken partnership that took England to 302 for 6 and was always going to be one heckuva run chase whatever.

The Australians seemed to sense that, especially after the inspired Woakes had Warner caught by Hales for just eight.

And after Mark Wood got Cameron White for 17 soon afterwards the arrival of skipper Smith at the crease was greeted with the sort of reception that suggested the home crowd were looking to him to play the saviour role.

With Aaron Finch, a centurion in the last two games, ploughing on to another 50, hope sprung eternal for the Australians - until Adil Rashid got him lbw for 62. Short by his standards, priceless by England's.

News that Liam Plunkett's match was over with a hamstring problem sparked concern, as did the 50 partnership Smith and Mitchell Marsh struck up in little more than half an hour.

The Aussie skipper was nowhere near his best, but he was nowhere near getting out either - until a controversial dismissal that took a nail biting long while to decide after he appealed it.

Buttler was in no doubt he had caught the ball Smith nicked off Wood, but it took a full five minutes of action replays for the third umpire to send him walking for 45 runs he had toiled to amass.

England were over the moon, as they say in footy land. And the departure of Marsh, caught by Hales off Rashid for 55, was probably the turning point they were dreaming of, especially after injury had robbed them of Plunkett's pace.

Marcus Stoinis and Tim Paine set up a dramatic and nervous finale before Stoinis lofted one to substitute fielder Sam Billings in the final over and the contest - and series - were over with England winning by 16 runs,

The long suffering Barmy Army went, well, barmy - and so did Morgan's jubilant men!