Resolute half-centuries by Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow led England to a four-wicket victory against Pakistan and a 4-0 lead in the five-match one-day global series on Thursday.
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England’s Alex Hales 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.
Jos Buttler, who was unbeaten on 90, smashed the fastest half-century for an England player in an ODI, requiring just 22 balls to do so.
Cook’s team will now turn their attention to inflicting a series whitewash on the tourists in the fourth ODI at Headingley.
The result was always going to be England’s once that huge score was posted, with Pakistan folding for 275 in 42.4 overs, handing the hosts a 169-run win.
“We did a fantastic job with the ball, a special mention for the spinners and the guys who came in, David Willey and Chris Jordan”, England captain Eoin Morgan said.
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).
Alex Hales is the latest, after his record-breaking 171 against Pakistan as England sealed the Royal London Series on his home ground at Trent Bridge, to make it clear he has yet to make up his mind.
He believes England could well challenge their own new record, however, having now hit all their top five ODI totals in the space of the last 15 months – since they first topped 400 against New Zealand at Edgbaston.
Sharjeel Khan, who made a dashing 58 at Nottingham again looked in good touch as he pulled Jordan for four and flicked him over deep square for six.
“They’re two very different games, red-ball and white-ball cricket”.
“To get the world record is a credit to the work we’ve put in and what we’re hoping to achieve”. With a power-packed line-up to follow them, including the consistently productive Joe Root and the scorer of England’s fastest ODI century in Buttler, there was speculation about whether England could go even further, though Woakes suggested that the 500 barrier might remain safe for a while yet.
“It’s a long time since that (record was set)”, Woakes added.
“It certainly hasn’t surprised me”, he said.
“The batting we’ve got all the way down to pretty much number 11 so it’s an exciting time for us as a team”.
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“We do have to pinch ourselves a little bit – because the improvements have been dramatic from where we were”.
