England smashed a world record-breaking 444-3 in an emphatic 169-run victory over Pakistan on Tuesday, taking an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match one-day global series.
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Off the penultimate ball of the innings, Gul also hit Willey for six but Pakistan now needed a special display on the field to prevent another England win.
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 global 50 from just 22 balls all naturally overshadowed Woakes’ commendable efforts.
This was a timely innings for Hales, who had managed just 145 runs at an average of 18.12 during England’s preceding 2-2 Test series with Pakistan.
The inclusion of Irfan, who flew to England last week in place of the injured Mohammad Hafeez, made an early impact on England’s top order, which achieved a world-record 444-3 in the third ODI at Trent Bridge on Tuesday.
444-3 England vs. Pakistan, Nottingham, 2016 443-9 Sri Lanka vs. Netherlands, Amstelveen, 2006 439-2 South Africa vs.
Captain Eoin Morgan can also call on the experience of prolific batsman Joe Root, who is named in the squad alongside all-rounder Moeen Ali and Alex Hales.
“I think the improvements we’ve shown in the last couple of years, I’m not sure how long that record will stand”, he said.
Since crashing out of the 2015 World Cup at the group stage, England have completely revolutionalised their approach to ODIs, culminating in a record-strewn performance at Trent Bridge that saw them set a new mark for the highest total by any team.
Among the bowlers, Wahab Riaz was the main victim bleeding 110 runs in his 10-over spell.
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. Australian Mick Lewis’ 113/0 being worst ever.
Jos Buttler made a dashing 90 not out, that included England’s fastest ODI 50 – off just 22 balls.
Pakistan were never in the game in the chase, losing three wickets in the first ten overs, with opener Sharjeel Khan (58, 30b, 12×4, 1×6) and No.11 Mohammed Amir (58, 28b, 5×4, 4×6) the only ones to make half-centuries.
England’s Alex Hales in action.
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England are unbeaten in white-ball cricket this summer, and national selector James Whitaker is hoping to see further evidence of the strides made in Twenty20.
