This pitch was not in the same mould as the Nottingham one on which England piled up a new world-record one-day worldwide total of 444 for three to seal the series two days ago.
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When Azhar was out, Pakistan – already 3-0 down in the five-match series – were 169 for six off 38 overs and in danger of failing to bat out their full 50 in this day/night fixture.
Hales’ knock of 171 (off 122 balls) on the opener’s Nottinghamshire home ground was the highest individual ODI score by any England batsman and together with Joe Root (85) he put on 248 for the second wicket.
Jos Buttler hit the quickest half-century by an Englishman in 22 balls, having managed just one run in his first seven deliveries.
England produced some brilliance in the meadows of Trent Bridge to wrap up the series against Pakistan. Wahab Riaz, the man who tortured Shane Watson in that World Cup previous year with one of the best ODI spells you will ever see, went for 110 runs in his 10 overs, the second highest ever in one-day internationals. Root arrived in the sixth over, when Roy was early on a pull, lobbing a catch to the keeper, and barely broke sweat while Hales broke Pakistan’s spirits.
The hosts passed their previous highest total of 408 for nine, made against New Zealand a year ago, while captain Morgan got to his half-century off 24 deliveries.
Man of the match Hales revealed afterwards that he didn’t know he’d broken the record, but preferred to focus on the team rather than his personal performance.
Sharjeel Khan (58) and Azhar (13) inducted some momentum into the innings by scoring four boundaries in the next two overs but it was Woakes once again had the better of the Pakistan captain.
Ironically the last word – and record – went to Mohammad Amir whose 58 is the highest score by a number 11 in ODI history.
There will be those who point to the dollops of luck England had, mostly during Hales innings, but they need to recognise the missed opportunities to add further to their total, such as when Buttler swung and missing at six or seven slower balls.
Pakistan captain Azhar Ali led from the front with 80 but his side were still held to 247 for eight by England in the fourth one-day global at Headingley on Thursday. Eoin Morgan, England’s white ball captain, once hit a six there that travelled all of 140 yards as it exited the stadium never to return.
Asked if they could repeat or improve on their latest feat, Woakes said: “I think it could happen. but not very often”.
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Amir provided some final entertainment for those who stayed to the end, bringing up his fifty with three consecutive sixes off Adil Rashid.
