England vs Pakistan: Hosts set new ODI record as Alex Hales stars in series victory

Celebration time: England's players are cheered off by the crowd
Stu Forster/Getty Images
By Tom Collomosse30 August 2016

It is quite a day when a man can break England’s one-day batting record and still be upstaged by his team-mates.

In most matches, Alex Hales’ 171 – which surpassed the 23-year-old high-water mark set by Robin Smith – would be the only story in town.

Yet perhaps Jos Buttler’s exhilarating partnership with Eoin Morgan, yielding 161 from 12 overs, was the most memorable act of the third one-day international against Pakistan at Trent Bridge.

In scoring 444 for three, not only did England beat their own 50-over best. They also posted the highest total in one-day history, beating the 443 for nine set by Sri Lanka against Holland in 2006.

It was far too many for a daunted, jaded Pakistan side, who were beaten by 169 runs, allowing England to clinch the five-match series with two games to spare. In doing so, they hit more sixes - 16 - than any England side before them in this format.

Hales’ innings, from just 122 deliveries, underpinned England’s effort but there were stellar performances everywhere. Buttler made 90 not out from 51 balls, reaching his 50 from only 22 balls – the fastest half-century by an Englishman – along the way. Morgan finished unbeaten on 57 from 27. By comparison, Joe Root moved at a snail’s pace, using 86 deliveries for his 85.

It seems extraordinary to say it, but Hales has played much more fluently than this. Luck was on his side and he took advantage of some dreadful work in the field from Pakistan, who were a rabble during England’s innings.

Their ground fielding was poor, their approach was casual and their catching was awful. After removing Jason Roy, caught behind for 15 off a mistimed pull, Pakistan had chances to send back Hales.

They did not take them. When he had made 59, Hales breathed a sigh of relief after a top-edge fell between three fielders close to third man. One of them could surely have made the distance with quicker running and better awareness.

On 72, Hales drilled the ball into the hands of deep backward square-leg – only to be reprieved because Wahab Riaz had bowled a no-ball. Wahab, by the way, ended with figures of 0 for 110 – the second-most expensive ever in the international one-day game.

Little wonder that, when he reached three figures, Hales celebrated so extravagantly. He had a dreadful final Test at The Kia Oval after a difficult summer, and his place is in doubt for the winter.

This was clearly a liberating experience, as before raising his bat to the crowd, Hales bellowed his joy and ran halfway towards the pavilion after clipping the single that took him to his hundred.

There was another let-off for Hales, on 114, when Azhar Ali put down a catch at extra-cover. The Pakistan captain, a part-time leg-spinner, also conceded 20 off a single over.

Hales sailed past 150 and then went past Smith’s total, set against Australia at Edgbaston in 1993, by pulling yet another long-hop to the boundary. Hales was told by Root what he had achieved and his smile lit up Trent Bridge.

From the following delivery, Hasan Ali removed Hales lbw. In the next over, Root was caught behind off the left-arm spinner, Mohammad Nawaz. England were 283 for three with 72 deliveries remaining.

At the end of their allocation, they had made cricket history, with Morgan and Buttler pummelling what spirit remained in the Pakistan attack. Buttler, in particular, was breathtaking. He took 26 from a single over from Shoaib Malik, including a six that landed on the top tier of the Radcliffe Road Stand.

Another maximum, to deep midwicket, caused one fan to tumble over the perimeter fence as he tried to catch the ball. Morgan was soon in on the act, accelerating ruthlessly after Yasir Shah had put down a simple chance at cover to end his innings for 14.

Like Buttler, Morgan reached the top tier of the stand with another brutal strike. His fifty required just two more deliveries than that of Buttler. He hit five sixes to Buttler’s seven. Unless you were a Pakistan supporter, it was fabulous stuff.

Wahab’s misery grew when he bowled Buttler but was, again, denied because he had overstepped. Buttler marched on towards his century, though Hasan, bowling a skilful final over, managed to keep him quiet – until Buttler swatted the final ball of the innings down the ground for four and into the record books.

For a few thrilling overs, it looked as though Pakistan might, just might, take it close. They lost Sami Aslam and Azhar early but Sharjeel Khan played some marvellous strokes, taking on Mark Wood and Chris Woakes and showing outstanding timing on the leg side.

On song: Alex Hales
Stu Forster/Getty Images

He was dropped in the deep by Hales when he had 43 and at that stage, one or two England players might have shuddered.

They need not have done so. Soon after completing a 26-ball fifty, Sharjeel tried to clear the boundary at square-leg, but found only Ben Stokes. It was Woakes’ third wicket, Sharjeel was gone for 58 and Pakistan’s challenge subsided.

Babar Azam was caught off a leading edge, giving Stokes his first international wicket in white-ball cricket since he was struck for four sixes by West Indies’ Carlos Brathwaite in the World Twenty20 Final in March. Then Shoaib, who has had a wretched series, was caught behind off Liam Plunkett.

Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali and Wahab Riaz came and wait before Mohammad Amir, who had been let down by his fielders, provided late entertainment by matching Buttler’s 22-ball half-century – the highest score by a No11 in one-day cricket – and hitting Adil Rashid for three consecutive sixes.

His fun ended when Woakes, who finished with four for 41, took a return catch after Amir’s luck finally expired.

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