England have just done something truly spectacular. Against the Netherlands, Eoin Morgan’s side hit 498 runs in 50 overs which is the highest 50 over score ever and a new world record score for one-day internationals.
The Test side have got off to a flyer in their series against New Zealand but Morgan’s men were keen to make a statement of their own as they ripped up the history books on a beautiful day in Amsterdam.
It was something that seemed impossible after opener Jason Roy was dismissed by his cousin for one after seven balls, but from there, almost everything went right for the visitors. Lancashire batsman Phil Salt took charge and spanked 122 of 93 balls that included 14 fours and three sixes on his way to an 82-ball ton, but it was his partnership with number three Dawid Malan that got England going.
Malan was, by comparison, a little sluggish as he ‘only’ managed 125 off 109 balls. If The Netherlands thought they had escaped punishment when they dismissed Salt, they were mistaken as Jos Buttler came in and put on an outrageous display of powerful batting.
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It was a day for records to fall and Buttler came to the crease and hit a 47-ball century, the second-fastest in England’s ODI history, only missing out on his own record by one ball. That boy, when he gets going, is something special and he now has the top three fastest ODI tons for England.
Captain Morgan’s golden duck was potentially the only disappointment but at least he got out of there quickly, to make room for another star performance from Liam Livingstone. He hit England’s fastest ever ODI 50, needing just 17 balls to get to his half-century having been dropped on 46. It looked like he would break AB de Villiers' world record of 16 balls at one point, but he just came up short of that particular record as he went joint-second in the history books.
This pitch in Amsterdam is small, but England made a mockery of their hosts with a display of relentless boundaries. Buttler hit 14 sixes of his own as the team managed 26 maximums, as they smashed their way past their previous ODI record of 481.
A four and six in the last two balls took them agonisingly close to that magical 500 mark - but with two more ODIs to come, perhaps they will fancy their chances of going one, or two better. In this form, who can stop them?
The Netherlands still have to come out and bat having chosen to bowl first, a decision I’m sure they are ruing over tea.
"Could be the first time that the highlights are the full 50 overs" Test captain Ben Stokes tweeted, having clearly thoroughly enjoyed that showing.
