The hosts, following up the record-breaking heroics of Trent Bridge – where they racked up an all-time highest one-day global total of 444 for three – have also wrapped up Andrew Strauss’ cross-format Super Series for good measure.
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“It’s pleasing to have won the series after three games but we want to be ruthless and win it five-nil”, added Hales, whose innings finally overhauled Robin Smith’s 167 not out against Australia at Edgbaston back in 1993 as England’s highest individual ODI score.
He scored 90 runs from 51 balls, which included seven fours and seven sixes, and in the process Buttler also became the fastest Englishman to reach a half-century, off just 22 balls.
Azhar Ali, the Pakistan captain, led from the front with 80 but his side were still held to 247 for 8 by England in the fourth One-Day International at Headingley on Thursday (September 1).
Can they do it?
The huge score by England betters the previous record of 443-9 registered by Sri Lanka against the Netherlands back in 2006. After Pakistan going for 444 runs, the only two teams left now are England and Bangladesh.
135 Runs scored by England in overs 41 to 50, the most they have scored in the last ten in a one day worldwide (in matches for which ball-by-ball data is available i.e since 2000).
Hales played a huge part in breaking that record, scoring a stunning 122-ball 171, which comprised of 22 fours and four sixes.
112 Number of runs scored by Hales in boundaries, the most by an England batsman in an innings.
Pakistan’s run chase was soon in trouble, with Chris Woakes (4-41) mopping up the top order. For the visitors, speedster Wahab Riaz carved out an ignominious place for himself in Pakistan’s cricket history by conceding the most runs in an ODI for them.
When Azhar was out, Pakistan – already 0-3 down in the five-match series – were 169 for 6 off 38 overs and in danger of failing to bat out 50 overs.
“It was an exceptional innings from Alex Hales and Jos Buttler”, he said.
Then Rashid signed off with the wicket of Azhar, whose hard work ended in anti-climax thanks to a tame chip to long-off from the final ball of the leg-spinner’s 10 overs.
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It looked like it would not be Pakistan’s day from the first few overs, when misfields allowed England momentum and once Hales hit his stride, despite his opening partner Jason Roy’s wicket in the sixth over, it was carnage at its ODI best.
