England broke the world record for the highest one-day score as they smashed 444 for 3 to thrash Pakistan and take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the one-day series at Trent Bridge. The highest total between two test nations was South Africa’s 439 for two against the West Indies in Johannesburg a year ago.
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Jos Buttler, England’s one-day wicketkeeper, did not commit when asked about his place last Friday, with Liam Plunkett and Alex Hales the latest of the current squad playing Pakistan to outline the tricky nature of the call.
But the time finally arrived and that record changed hands in Alex Hales’ home ground of Nottingham as he brought up not only his highest List-A score but also the highest ODI score by an Englishman (171).
Hales, nearing his fourth ODI century, is offered a juicy short-pitched delivery at 53.4 miles per hour which is begging to be smoked out of the park, but he settles with a cross-bat drag that garners him a four.
Hales did give a chance on 114 when he flayed leg-spinner Yasir Shah to short extra-cover where Pakistan captain Azhar Ali dropped the head-high catch.
England now hold the record with their 444 for 3 in this match.
Buttler took his cue, from the opener’s second-wicket stand of 248 with Joe Root (85), to blast that fastest half-century – with six sixes and three fours.
The highlights reel of Hales’s 122-ball stay at the wicket, that was characterised by a mindful start, consolidation and the seamless shifting of gears, could serve as a fine case study to Pakistan – as they can clearly trace what is missing in their ODI game. This was for the first time a Pakistan bowler had given more than 100 runs in an ODI.
Quinton de Kock, Faf de Plessis and AB de Villiers all scored hundreds as South Africa crushed India to amass a score of 438-4. He collected 20 runs off an over from the latter to propel England from 100 in 18 overs to 157 in 23. “Our fielding, on a wicket like this, it needs to support the bowlers and that didn’t happen”.
He hit seven fours and as many sixes in all during his 51-ball knock.
Sri Lanka also hit 59 – 46 fours and three sixes – when they made 443.
Sharjeel showed some flashes as he hit 12 fours in his half century that included four successive boundaries in Mark Wood’s one over – before holing out in the deep off Woakes. He bettered Paul Collingwood’s effort of 24 deliveries, against New Zealand in Napier in 2007-08.
Test captain Alastair Cook has assured England supremo Andrew Strauss he will go and other players have few qualms about visiting the troubled country.
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Virender Sehwag was at the forefront once again with his wit.
