England smashes new ODI record score of 481 against Australia, tourists cop heaviest-ever loss
Updated
England has stormed to a world record 6-481 as they demolished Australia's bowling attack in the third match of their ODI series at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.
It came on a miserable day for Australia's largely second-string team, falling well short in a 242-run loss after being dismissed for 239 all out in 37 overs — still three runs short of half of England's total.
It is Australia's heaviest defeat in ODI history, and gives world number one England an unassailable 3-0 series lead with two matches still to play.
Jonny Bairstow's swashbuckling 139 and a magnificent 147 by Alex Hales took England past the total of 3-444 it made against Pakistan, also at Trent Bridge, two years ago.
Captain Eoin Morgan joined in the fun as he struck a 21-ball half century — the fastest by an England batsman in ODIs — to become his country's leading one-day run scorer.
It looked as though England would go past the 500-run barrier before a few late wickets caused the run flow to dry up slightly.
England failed to score any boundaries in the last four overs — but before that it struck 21 sixes during an incredible display of stroke play.
Australia fast bowler Andrew Tye suffered the worst punishment, his nine overs going for 100 runs.
The Australians had little chance of reaching the absurd total, bundled out in 37 overs with England's David Willey taking 4-56.
Travis Head top-scored for the tourists with 51 from 39 balls, while Marcus Stoinis was the next-best bat with 44 from 37.
Reuters/ABC
Topics: cricket, sport, united-kingdom
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