Destruction: England’s Jos Buttler smashed a 47-ball century against the Netherlands
(Picture: Getty Images)Three England batters scored centuries as they thrashed their way to a world record-smashing 498 for four in the first ODI against the Netherlands in Amsterdam.
Phil Salt, Dawid Malan and, most spectacularly, Jos Buttler all made centuries, the first time England have recorded three hundreds in the same ODI innings. Then Liam Livingstone smashed their fastest ODI half-ton from just 17 balls.
Buttler, as so often, was the star, smashing a career-best 162 not out from 70 deliveries.
In 2018, England smashed a world-record 481 in 50 overs against Australia at Trent Bridge and, in the final over in Amstelveen, a Buttler six took them out in front. They could not quite become the first team to reach 500, but England’s total was the highest in the history of all List A cricket, breaking Surrey’s 496 in 2007.
Netherlands skipper Pieter Seelaar won the toss and opted to bowl, and would have been pleased when Shane Snater snuck one through the gate of his cousin, the destructive Jason Roy.
England were one for one, but that was as good at it got for the hosts. Salt, who made his first international century, and Malan put on 222 from 170 balls for the second wicket.
Salt was especially clinical, hitting 14 fours and three sixes, before spooning a catch into the off side.
Malan made 125 from 109 balls, his first ODI century. This means he becomes the second England men’s player to make hundreds in all three formats, joining Buttler (Heather Knight has done so in the women’s game).
For the second half of his innings, though, he was simply knocking singles to get Buttler – promoted to No4 – on strike. He reached his century in just 47 balls, missing out on his own record for the fastest by an Englishman by one ball, and meaning he occupies the top three spots of that particular record.
He charged on to 150 from 65 balls, by which point he was operating in Livingstone’s wake. Livingstone smashed 32 runs from a single Philippe Boissevan over, including four sixes. Boissevan conceded 108 from 10 overs, then dropped Livingstone, who missed out on the record for the fastest ODI half-century by two balls. He finished with 66 not out from 22 balls.
Remarkably, England moved from 350 to 450 in 26 balls. Amid the carnage, England captain Eoin Morgan recorded a golden duck, as Seelaar picked up his and Malan’s wickets in successive balls.
