England posted a world record ODI total to crush the Netherlands by 232 runs in Amstelveen on Friday.
England’s 498-4 beat their own world record of 481 against Australia at Trent Bridge in 2018 as well as the List A 50-over record of 496 achieved by Surrey against Gloucestershire in 2007.
Jos Buttler, who finished on 162*, plundered his ton off just 47 balls – missing his own record for the fastest England century by just one ball – while Phil Salt (122 off 93 balls) and Dawid Malan (125 off 109) also made centuries.
Liam Livingstone, batting at No 6, made the fastest 50 in England’s ODI history off just 17 balls – the joint second-fastest of all time. He finished with 66* off 22 balls.
In reply, the Dutch were all out for 266 with Scott Edwards top-scoring with an unbeaten 72.
England made their intentions clear early in their innings when Salt smacked Dutch right-arm medium pacer Shane Snater for six – the first in slugfest of 25 sixes and 36 fours to follow – in near-perfect batting conditions.
The right-hander pulled a short ball over deep-midwicket to land just over the ropes to the ongoing delight of cheering away fans.
Salt suffered an early scare though in his innings, when the Netherlands – who surprisingly opted to field after winning the toss – dropped him on 40 in deep cover off the bowling of Bas de Leede.
England lost an early wicket when Jason Roy inside-edged a pitching delivery from Snater, and had to walk for a single.
Together with a stylish Malan, Salt put on a partnership of 222 before being caught on 122, slicing at a slower short ball by Logan van Beek.
Malan and Buttler then drove England with an even bigger partnership of 184 before Malan fell on 125 to a full delivery from Dutch skipper Pieter Seelaar, which Malan steered into the waiting hands of Bas de Leede at deep midwicket.
Malan looked trapped lbw on 25 off the bowling of the Dutch skipper earlier in his innings, but he got a reprieve after an initial out decision was overturned by the third umpire.
The left-hander smashed three sixes and nine fours, becoming only the second England player after Buttler to score a ton in all three formats of the game.
But in the end, it was Buttler who gave the young players in the Dutch team a masterclass batting lesson, hitting seven sixes and 14 fours in a magnificent innings on a day of records.
The Netherlands managed to save some face, putting up a respectable score against the ODI world champions on any other day.
Veteran wicket-keeper Edwards put on a spirited 59-run partnership with Seelaar before the skipper was clean bowled by David Willey for 25.
Max O’Dowd made 55 off 55 balls, including six fours and two sixes – including one cracking a window in the media stand.
But the England bowlers, especially veteran spinner Moeen Ali, with three wickets and wily left-hand medium-pacer Willey with two, turned the screws on the Dutch who lost wickets at regular intervals.
Sam Curran and Reece Topley claimed two scalps each.
© Agence France-Presse
