England created a world record by slamming the highest-ever ODI score on Friday (June 17) as Eoinmorgan & Co. hammered the hapless Netherlands bowlers in the three-match series opener, at the VRA Cricket Ground, Amstelveen.
Being asked to bat first, Morgan-led Three Lions displayed their attacking style of cricket despite being 1-1 after Jason Roy's early dismissal. Phillip Salt, Dawid Malan and Jos Buttler were the three centurions as England reached a mammoth 498-4 in 50 overs, achieving the highest ODI total in history. Their innings was filled with as many as 26 sixes, most by any team in an ODI inning. Apart from the three centurions, big-hitter Liam Livingstone -- coming from an excellent IPL 2022 -- was also at his best as he slammed an unbeaten 22-ball 66, studded with 6 fours and an equal number of sixes at a strike rate of 300.
Courtesy his blistering knock, Livingstone broke a plethora of records. In the 46th over of the innings, the right-hander smacked Dutchman Philippe Boissevain for 32 runs -- including 4 sixes and two fours. This became the best over in ODI history for England as Livingstone went past Dimitri's Mascarenhas tally of 30 runs in 2007 off Yuvraj Singh's bowling at the Oval.
Further, Livingstone reached the 50-run mark in just 17 balls. In the process, the 28-year-old all-rounder registered the fastest half-century by an English batter in the history of the game. He went past his skipper Morgan's record, who had reached a fifty off just 21 deliveries in an ODI versus Australia at Trent Bridge in 2018. It was the same match when England had amassed 481/6, which is now the second-highest ODI total in men's cricket. In addition, Livingstone's fifty is the joint second-fastest in ODI cricket history alongside former Sri Lankan opener Sanath Jayasuriya, Martin Guptill, and Thisara Perera. He, however, missed overtaking AB de Villiers' all-time record by just one ball.
Three English Players Smash Centuries
It was a dream start for the Netherlands but what followed after that was a reflection of England’s white-ball batting in recent years. Phil Salt made his intentions very clear. He scored 122 runs off just 93 balls.
Salt and David Malan added 222 runs for the 2nd wicket. Malan too completed his century and was dismissed for 125 off 109 balls.
Jos Buttler carried his rich vein of form from the IPL to international cricket as he notched the 2nd fastest century by an Englishman in ODI cricket. He top-scored with 162 runs from just 70 balls.
With five overs to spare, Livingstone made the most of the remaining deliveries, belting them to all four corners and putting up a fight against his partner at the other end. Liam Livingstone smashed 66 runs off just 22 balls. Eoin Morgan who returned to lead the England side after 11 months in ODIs went for a golden duck but he won’t mind that because his team managed to break their own record of the highest ever total in ODI cricket.
The last ball of the innings was sent for a six and England missed the 500-run mark by just 2 runs.
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