Alex Hales’ England record 171 – bettering Robin Smith’s 167 not out 23 years ago – England’s world-best 444 for three and Jos Buttler’s new mark for this country’s fastest one-day worldwide 50 from just 22 balls all naturally overshadowed Woakes’ commendable efforts.
Advertisement
England’s Alex Hales, right, bats as Pakistan wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed looks on during the third one day worldwide cricket match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, England, Tuesday, Aug. 30.
Alex Hales, on his Nottinghamshire home ground, made an England ODI record 171.
Morgan too scored an unbeaten half-century and ended with 27-ball 57, which included three fours and five huge sixes.
16 Number of sixes hit by England – 4 by Hales, 7 by Jos Buttler and 5 by Eoin Morgan, the most they have ever hit in an innings and the most Pakistan have ever conceded.
Unbeaten in all their nine limited-overs matches so far this summer, England are therefore Royal London Series winners – having taken a 3-0 lead with two to play.
Buttler, whose 22-ball 50 was also an England record, clubbed the last ball for four to take England to 444-3, one better than the previous mark set by Sri Lanka against the Netherlands just over 10 years ago.
26 Balls needed by Sharjeel Khan to score 50, the fastest by a Pakistan opening batsman other than Shahid Afridi.
But Hales was rarely troubled after Morgan won the toss.
The opener flayed four sixes and 22 fours in his 122-ball knock to surpass Robin Smith’s 167 not out against Australia in Birmingham in 1993.
Hales on 72 pulled Riaz to deep square leg only for third umpire Marais Erasmus to correctly rule the bowler, who often over-steps, had no-balled.
“We missed chances, especially getting wickets with no balls and dropping catches, which didn’t help”, Pakistan captain Azhar Ali said.
Dawson impressed on his worldwide debut in England’s last T20 match, taking 3-27 in an eight-wicket win against Sri Lanka at The Ageas Bowl two months ago.
Only a fighting rearguard from bowlers Mohammad Amir and Yasir Shah prevented an embarrassing scoreline for Pakistan.
National selector, James Whitaker, said: “It is excellent to see the progress we are making in white ball cricket across both formats”.
Advertisement
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.
