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Stunning England break ODI record to crush Australia

Alex Hales hits another one out the ground as he top scored with a superb 147 at his home ground
Alex Hales hits another one out the ground as he top scored with a superb 147 at his home ground

England have broken the record for the highest score in ODI cricket with a brutal display of hitting against Australia, winning by 242 runs.

Hundreds from Jonny Bairstow and Alex Hales, Jason Roy’s 82 and Eoin Morgan’s 67 from just 30 balls saw England reach a phenomenal 481-6 in the third game of the series.

That is 38 more than the 443-3 they scored at the same ground two years ago, when Pakistan were the opponents, and is the latest statement of intent from the favourites for next year’s World Cup.

It was a quite incredible performance from Morgan’s side and, perhaps most shockingly, the team’s most destructive player Jos Buttler only made 11 from 12 balls.

Jonny Bairstow salutes the crowd after reaching his hundred in just 69 ballsS
Jonny Bairstow salutes the crowd after reaching his hundred in just 69 ballsS

Roy and Bairstow got things underway with a 159 run opening partnership, only broken when the former needlessly ran himself out.

Hales came in and immediately got to work, putting on another 151 runs with Bairstow, who holed out in the deep to the off spin of Ashton Agar for 139.

Buttler followed shortly after, having been sent in up the order at four, before Hales and Morgan added 124 runs in just 59 balls.

Jye Richardson dismissed Hales (147) and Morgan in consecutive balls in the 48th over as England slowed down at the death, but the damage had been done by then and the Aussie bowling figures were particularly ugly.

Andrew Tye went for 100 from nine overs, Richardson may have taken three wickets, but his ten overs cost the Aussies 92 runs and Marcus Stoinis was taken for 85 from his eight overs.

Although it looked like England were set to score 500 at one stage, their mammoth total should be more than enough to clinch the five-game series with two games remaining and it further cemented their status as the format’s best side.

Australia could only make 239 all out, lasting just 37 overs. The 242 winning margin was the best in England’s history, and the worst in Australia’s.