ALEX HALES’ CENTURY provided the platform for England to post the highest one-day international total in history of 444 for three against Pakistan at Trent Bridge today.
That surpassed the previous record of 443 for nine by Sri Lanka against the Netherlands at Amstelveen in 2006.
Hales’ knock of 171 (off 122 balls) on the opener’s Nottinghamshire home ground was the highest individual ODI score by any England batsman and together with Joe Root (85) he put on 248 for the second wicket.
Both batsmen fell in quick succession to leave England 283 for three in 38 overs.
But an unbroken stand of 161 in 76 balls between Jos Buttler (90 not out) and captain Eoin Morgan (57 not out) ensured the runs just kept coming.
Dubliner Morgan was in stunning form, his 57 runs coming off just 27 balls — including three fours and five sixes — at a strike rate of 211.11.
Buttler’s innings featured England’s quickest ODI fifty, off just 22 balls, and he hit seven fours and as many sixes during his 51-ball knock.
It seemed England would fall short of a new record when Buttler played and missed at the fourth and fifth balls of the last over, from Hasan Ali, with the hosts then on 339.
But the last ball of the innings saw Buttler, the standard bearer for England’s dynamic approach to ODI cricket following their woeful first-round exit at last year’s World Cup, thrash Hasan over extra-cover for four to the delight of a sun-drenched and capacity crowd of more than 17,000.
“It was pretty much the perfect batting display,” Hales said between innings.
“To get the record there with the last ball was unbelievable.
“It’s a special feeling, particularly for a team that’s still improving.”
Pakistan left-arm fast bowler Wahab Riaz, who twice took ‘wickets’ with no-balls, finished with figures of none for 110 in his maximum 10 overs.
That was the second-most expensive return in an ODI, behind Australian Mick Lewis’s none for 113 against South Africa at Johannesburg in 2006.
Hales’ innings topped Robin Smith’s previous England ODI best of 167 not out against Australia at Edgbaston back in 1993.
Hales had managed just 145 runs at an average of 18.12 during England’s preceding 2-2 Test series with Pakistan.
That was followed by meagre scores of seven and 14 at Southampton and Lord’s respectively as England went 2-0 up in this five-match ODI series.
But Hales was rarely troubled after Morgan won the toss in this day/night fixture.
Pakistan are way off the place in reply and currently sit on 191/8 after 31 overs, having coming into the clash on the back of an ODI series win against Ireland.
Earlier today, Ireland made a solid start to their ICC Intercontinental Cup clash in Belfast against Hong Kong.
William Porterfield decided to bat after winning the toss and he led his Ireland side to 316 all-out in their first innings of the four-day match.
Porterfield tallied 88 from 121 balls, while Gary Wilson’s 95 proved a welcome boost from the middle order as Ireland sought to post a competitive first-innings total.
Ireland’s bowling trio of Tim Murtagh, Craig Young and George Dockrell then played superbly when Hong Kong occupied the crease, restricting the visitors to just two runs from seven overs, for no loss of wickets, at the end of the day’s play.
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Great result for Kerry .
Kerry should win it this year.
Kerry were filthy