Eoin Morgan’s side broke the world record for a one-day global score when they posted 444-3 against Pakistan on Tuesday. The previous highest was Sri Lanka’s 443 runs against Netherlands in Amstelveen in 2006.
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It was also the highest ODI total in a match between two Test nations, topping South Africa’s 439/2 for two against the West Indies at Johannesburg a year ago.
171: Alex Hales’ score, passing the 167 made by Robin Smith in 1993 as England’s best in ODI cricket.
Following their extraordinary batting display at Trent Bridge, England won by 169 runs and paceman Woakes admitted to mixed feelings as he watched Hales, ably supported by Joe Root, Buttler and Morgan play a “special” innings in Nottingham. England lead their five-match series with Pakistan 2-0.
It was a ideal day of cricket for England, who did no wrong and a day Pakistan would pay to forget.
Hales plundered 171, the highest individual limited-overs score by an England batsman, before Buttler reached his fifty off 22 deliveries, also an England record.
This aggressive brand of cricket is paying dividends as the Three Lions posted a world record score against Pakistan in the third ODI on 30 September.
It seemed England would fall short of a new record when Buttler played and missed at the fourth and fifth balls of the last over, from Hasan Ali, with the hosts then on 339. Both the teams have played 21 ODIs against each other during this period with England winning 15 and Pakistan just five whereas one game was ended as no-result.
However, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said last week that the tour, which includes three one-day worldwide and two Test match fixtures in October and November, would go ahead as planned. Pakistan’s Wahab Riaz was their most expensive bowler and he returned with figures of 0/110 in his allotted 10 overs.
Earlier, after opting to bat first, England registered highest ever team total in ODIs.
Opener Sharjeel Khan hit 58 but wickets fell at regular intervals until number 11 Mohammad Amir smashed 58 in 28 balls to share an unlikely last-wicket stand of 76 with Yasir Shah (26 not out). As well as Hales, Joe Root, Jos Buttler and Morgan himself made half-centuries.
Hales rode his luck during his innings but after a tough Test summer, in which he failed to make a century against Sri Lanka or Pakistan, captain Morgan felt the batsman deserved his good fortune. All I can do is try to score as many runs as I can in the remaining games and keep myself in contention for that spot.
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Their opponents Pakistan, have struggled so far in the series, showing just why they are now placed ninth in the ICC ODI rankings.
