England broke their own record of the highest ever ODI score by posting an unimaginable 481 for 6 against a hapless Australian bowling attack in the third ODI at Nottingham.
England earlier held the record for the highest ever ODI score, when they had posted 444 for three against Pakistan in 2016 at this very ground at Trent Bridge.
Openers Jason Roy and Johny Bairstow gave a dream start to England, scoring 159 in 19.3 overs before Roy unfortunately got run out for 82 off 61 balls. But there was no respite for the Australian bowlers as in walked Alex Hales, who continued the onslaught with Bairstow.
Bairstow brought up his century with a six off just 69 deliveries. he was finally out for 139 off 92 balls after hitting five sixes and 15 fours.
Hales decided to do one better from Bairstow and nonchalantly brought up his ton off just 61 balls in front of his ground. Hales fell agonizingly short of 150 after getting dismissed for 147 off 92 balls while trying to clear the park for the sixth time in his innings.
England captain Eoin Morgan may not have a century beside him like his No.3 or No. 4 batsmen but he broke a plethora of records during his 30-ball 67-run whirlwind innings. Morgan scored the fastest half-century by an Englishman when he reached the milestone off 21 balls and also became the all-time highest run scorer for England in ODI cricket, bettering Ian Bell’s tally of 5416.
The Australian bowling attack looked as helpless as it ever did. On a placid track with a small outfield to play with, the inexperienced attack comprising of Andrew Tye, Billy Stanlake and Jhye Richardson looked clueless. Captain Tim Paine used as many as eight bowlers but none of them failed to create an impact and let alone stop the barrage of sixes.
Australia did pick up a few wickets towards the end but the damage was already done.