When England arrived at Trent Bridge for their third One Day International of the summer against Pakistan, a number of ODI records were safely sleeping.
By the close of play, they had been rudely awakened.
First to be smashed was Robin Smith’s highest individual ODI score for England, a respectable 167*, set in 1993.
What an innings from @AlexHales1! Highest score by an @englandcricket batsman in an ODI ð pic.twitter.com/mjMswimlZj
— Lord's Ground (@HomeOfCricket) August 30, 2016
Take a bow @alexhales1 highest score by an England Batsman in ODIs #ENGvPAK #ð
A video posted by We Are England Cricket (@englandcricket) on
Even at that stage, it was clear that England were moving into an almost unassailable position.
And when Hales went on his way with his bat and new record tucked under his arm, Pakistan breathed a sigh of relief.
Jos Buttler, however, was in no mood to allow them any respite, setting the record for England’s quickest ODI half century at 22 deliveries.
Buttler first 7 balls: 1 run
Buttler next 15 balls: 52 runs#EngvPak— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) August 30, 2016
Buttler is seeing it like a wrecking ball and having exactly the effect of one on Pakistan's bowlers. #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/i8j6GoCE9y
— The Cricketer (@TheCricketerMag) August 30, 2016
So with the records for England’s fastest half century and biggest individual score broken, all eyes turned to England’s highest overall team score. It did not take much beating.
England's record ODI score is 408 at Edgbaston vs NZ last year.
They're currently 383-3 after 45. pic.twitter.com/ctgzi8680X— Test Match Special (@bbctms) August 30, 2016
England have smashed their own ODI highest total of 408, can they chalk off Sri Lanka's 443? #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/2VKBzvOw5W
— The Cricketer (@TheCricketerMag) August 30, 2016
All that was left was to break the world record. For a time it looked difficult, but Eoin Morgan and Buttler proved themselves more than capable.
They left it late however, needing the final ball of the innings to break the record.
Look how @josbuttler secured history for this brilliant England team #getinthere https://t.co/7DzrRlUcdf
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 30, 2016
