News Sports Cricket England set world record ODI total of 444/3 against Pakistan, Alex Hales notches highest individual English score

England set world record ODI total of 444/3 against Pakistan, Alex Hales notches highest individual English score

England on Tuesday set a new world record in ODI cricket, scoring 444/3 against Pakistan.

England's Alex Hales celebrates his century Image Source : APEngland's Alex Hales celebrates his century

Breaking Sri Lanka’s record of highest score in a one-day international innings, England on Tuesday set a new world record in ODI cricket, scoring 444/3 against Pakistan.

Sri Lanka had set the previous record at 443/9 against the Netherlands in 2006. 

Electing to bat first after winning the toss in the third ODI of a five-match series, English batsmen destroyed the Pakistani bowling, considered one of best in the world. 

England already lead the series 2-0.

The score was also the highest ODI total in a match between two Test nations. The record was previously held by South Africa which notched 439 for two against the West Indies at Johannesburg last year.

Playing on his home ground in Nottinghamshire, opening batsman Alex Hales hit England's highest individual ODI score with 171. Hales struck 22 fours and four sixes in a 122-ball blitz at his home ground in Trent Bridge, beating Robin Smith's 23-year-old England record of an unbeaten 167 against Australia.

Jos Buttler (90 not out) also punished Pakistan's bowlers by notching England's fastest ever ODI half century in just 22 balls. 

Captain Eoin Morgan, who won the toss and opted to bat, profited from a dropped catch to remain unbeaten on 57.

Together with Joe Root (85), who hit his third successive half century of the series, Hales added 248 runs off 190 balls as England bettered the previous world record of 443-9, set by Sri Lanka against the Netherlands in 2006, when Buttler hit a four off the last ball.

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.