England shatter own record, beat Australia by 242 runs in 3rd ODI to clinch series
Nottingham: England extended its own record in one-day international cricket by 37 runs after smashing the highest-ever total of 481-6 as it beat Australia by 242 runs in the third ODI on Tuesday.
Australia were bowled out for 239 with 13 overs to spare - its biggest ODI defeat in terms of runs and England's largest ODI win.
England now has an insurmountable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
No. 3 Alex Hales hit 16 fours and five sixes in reaching 147 off 92 balls, and opener Jonny Bairstow scored 139 - also off 92 deliveries - in his fourth ODI century in the last six games as England went on a run rampage from the onset.
England held the previous innings record when it scored 444-3 against Pakistan in 2016 at the same Trent Bridge ground.
Australia, which won the toss and chose to field, never looked like reaching the huge target as spinners Adil Rashid (4-47) and Moeen Ali (3-28) shared seven wickets between them.
"Certainly a day for everyone in that changing room to be very proud of," England captain Eoin Morgan said.
"The level of intensity was different to anything we've done in the last three years. It was as close to a complete performance as we've got to. There are two more opportunities to score big runs."
Australia's previous heaviest ODI defeat was 32 years ago when it was beaten by New Zealand by 206 runs at Adelaide in 1986.
Australian captain Tim Paine's decision to bowl first backfired spectacularly against England's top-order batsmen. Seamer Andrew Tye finished on 0-100 off nine overs while the other two fast bowlers - Marcus Stoinis (0-85) and Billy Stanlake (0-74) - also went for plenty.
