Harry Brook’s 202 off 114 balls rewrites England’s ODI record books.
Table of Contents
ODI record
England skipper Harry Brook has etched his name in the ODI record books. He hit a 202 against Sri Lanka in the third match of the Pakistan Tri-Series at Rawalpindi. The right-handed opener reached the double century in ODI’s fastest time, scoring 202 runs off 114 balls. His innings helped England post 429 for 4.
A Record-Breaking Day for Brook
- Brooks’ double century was special in more ways than one; here are some of them
- It is the highest individual score by any player in an ODI game in Pakistan
- It is the highest total ever scored by Sri Lanka in an ODI game
- It set a new record for the highest individual score in England’s ODI matches, beating Ben Stokes’ previous best of 182
- It makes Brook the second player in the history of cricket to have scored a triple century in Test, a double century in ODI and a century in T20I, joining Chris Gayle of the West Indies.
Match Statistics
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| England total | 429/4 |
| Harry Brook | 202 (double century in 114 balls) |
| Joe Root | 69, dismissed by Asitha Fernando |
| Will Jacks | 66, including a 25-ball fifty |
| Tom Banton | 50 (fourth consecutive half-century), out to Dunith Wellalage |
| Ben Duckett | 29, out lbw |
| Brook-Root stand | 159 runs |
| Brook-Jacks stand | 185 runs |
The Innings Phase by Phase
- Slow start: Brook makes 13 from his first 24 deliveries.
- Once settled at the crease, he looks to exploit Sri Lanka’s lack of a frontline fifth bowler by targeting the part-time spin of Kamindu Mendis and Janith Liyanage.
- He pulls off reverse-scoops, cuts and drives straight down the ground to dismantle the opposition.
- Two late reprieves come his way, including a stunning diving catch at mid-off by Avishka Fernando on 190.
- He scores a six in the final over before top-scoring with 245 from 248 balls, falling to a deep point on the last delivery.
Key Takeaways: Tactical Insight
- The fifth-bowler gap decided the game, as Sri Lanka’s part-time options were forced to bowl overs they were not built for and Brook picked on them. A 50-over format allows little room for error as shown by the heavy punishment meted out to the one weak link in the Sri Lankan bowling attack.
- Brook’s pacing was the best lesson. Starting slow and finishing with a relentless surge of runs underlines that batters at the crease have to take responsibility for anchoring the innings and accelerating the scoring. It worked at record-breaking speed.
- The partnerships had different roles to play, with each pairing adding to the total in their own way. Banton provided a Powerplay platform, Root added stability, while Jacks added late fireworks.
- The captain led from the front as he made a record-breaking innings for a tri-series match, underlining England’s batting strength and setting a challenge for the opposition.
What’s Next
England have announced their intentions well in the Pakistan Tri-Series. Now the questions are whether Brook can reproduce this acceleration against opponents fielding a full five-man attack, and whether Banton can prolong his run of successive fifties. Sri Lanka, on their part, will need to sort out their bowling balance soon.
FAQ
How long did it take for Harry Brook to hit two centuries?
The young cricketer has become the fastest to reach 200 balls in an ODI.
What was Brook’s final score?
The left-handed opening batter has scored 202 and was out on the last delivery of the innings.
What was England’s final tally?
They eventually posted 429 for 4, the highest ODI score on Pakistani soil and the most runs ever given up by Sri Lanka in the format.
Who’s the record holder for the previous England ODI score?
Ben Stokes had previously set the record for the highest individual ODI score by an England batsman with 182.
Who is the only other player to achieve a similar feat in all formats?
Chris Gayle is the only other player to have a Test triple century, an ODI double century and a T20I century.
Who else chipped in with the innings?
Joe Root (69), Will Jacks (66) and Tom Banton (50) all played their part in the innings.
Final Word
Records such as this are not usually broken. The question now is whether there will be someone who can beat it. Will Brook’s 202 set the standard for years, or has ODI batting entered a new era?
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