England set records rolling
Alex Hales's century provided the platform for England to post the highest ever one-day international total of 444 for three against Pakistan at Trent Bridge on Tuesday.
That surpassed the previous record of 443 for nine by Sri Lanka against the Netherlands at Amstelveen in 2006.
Hales's knock on the opener's Nottinghamshire home ground was the highest ever-individual ODI score by any England batsman and together with Joe Root (85) he put on 248 for the second wicket.
Both batsmen fell in quick succession to leave England 283 for three in 38 overs.
But an unbroken stand of 161 in 76 balls between Jos Buttler (90 not out) and captain Eoin Morgan (57 not out) ensured the runs just kept coming.
Buttler's innings featured England's quickest ever ODI fifty, off just 22 balls, and he hit seven fours and as many sixes in total during his 51-ball knock.
It seemed England would fall short of a new record when Buttler played and missed at the fourth and fifth balls of the last over, from Hasan Ali with the hosts then on 339.
But the last ball of the innings saw Buttler, the standard bearer for England's dynamic approach to ODI cricket following their woeful first-round exit at last year's World Cup, thrash Hasan over extra-cover for four to the delight of a sun-drenched and capacity crowd of more than 17,000.
"It was pretty much the perfect batting display," Hales told Sky Sports between innings.
"To get the record there with the last ball was unbelievable.
"It's a special feeling, particularly for a team that's still improving."
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.
Hales's innings topped Robin Smith's previous England ODI best of 167 not out against Australia at Edgbaston back in 1993.
Hales had managed just 145 runs at an average of 18.12 during England's preceding 2-2 Test series with Pakistan.
That was followed by meagre scores of seven and 14 at Southampton and Lord's respectively as England went 2-0 up in this five-match ODI series.
Pakistan, top of the Test rankings but a lowly ninth in the ODI table, helped England on their way by letting through a couple of early boundaries to set the tone for a desperately shoddy fielding display.
SCORES IN BRIEF
ENGLAND: 444 for 3 in 50 overs (Hales 171, Root 85, Buttler 90 not out, Morgan 57 not out; Hasan 2-74)
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