Courtesy: ECB
On June 19, 2018, England recorded their highest One-Day International (ODI) team total at the time in the game played against Australia in Trent Bridge. Fielding first after winning the toss, Australia saw themselves under attack as England openers Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow looked ruthless against bowlers and built a solid 159-run opening stand off just 117 balls. Roy departed after scoring a swift 82 off 61 before Bairstow, allying with Alex Hales, continued his onslaught on the Aussie bowlers. Both top-order batters played attacking cricket and built a 151-run partnership for the second wicket off just 85 balls.
Bairstow went on to score his ton in just 69 balls. In the 35th over, the opener fell against Ashton Agar and concluded his innings after scoring an impressive 139 off just 92. His innings was studded with 20 boundaries (15 fours and five maximums). Hales also notched up his hundred from just 62 balls and strengthened his team’s command over the game. Captain Eoin Morgan also shone with his bat and smashed a 21-ball fifty. Hales went back to the dugout after hitting 147 off just 92, while Morgan racked up 67 off just 30.
Riding on the sensational batting efforts, England posted a humongous total of 481/6 on the board. With this team total, they shattered their own previous record of the highest ODI score of 444/3 against Pakistan in August 2016. England’s 481/6 is the second-largest team score in 50-over cricket as they broke this feat with their 498/4 against The Netherlands in June 2022.
England went on to clinch one-sided victory
The hosts’ valiant batting performance shattered Australia’s confidence as the visitors capitulated to 239 in the response to the colossal score and registered a giant 242-run defeat. Except for Travis Head (51 off 39) and Marcus Stoinis (44 off 37), all other Aussie batters struggled to face England’s confident bowling unit.
Adil Rashid went on to bag a four-wicket haul and emerged as the highest wicket-taker in the game. In his 10-wicket spell, he trapped Aaron Finch, Tim Paine, Ashton Agar, and Billy Stanlake. It is England’s biggest ODI win (by runs) and Hales became the recipient of the player of the match for his superb batting performance.
