Alex Hales and Jason Roy produce 256-run stand to help England thrash Sri Lanka and take lead in five-match series
ALEX HALES and Jason Roy scored a century apiece as they shattered records and powered England to a crushing victory over Sri Lanka.
After the nerve-shredding tension and drama of the tie on Tuesday, Hales and Roy made sure this England win at Edgbaston was never remotely in doubt.
They got home with an incredible 15.5 overs to spare. It was only England’s sixth ten-wicket triumph in a one-dayer.
The unbroken partnership of 256 between Hales and Roy was England’s highest in a one-day international – beating the 250 put on by Andrew Strauss and Jonathan Trott for the second wicket against Bangladesh on the same ground in 2010.
The previous best opening stand was 203 by Marcus Trescothick and Vikram Solanki against South Africa at the Oval in 2003.
Notts opener Hales finished with 133 not out – his third one-day international century – while Surrey’s Roy made an unbeaten 112.
It means England are 1-0 up with three matches to go. The next game is in Southampton on Sunday.
By the end, the pair were tormenting Sri Lanka’s bowlers and hitting sixes almost at will.
Hales hoisted three maximums off successive deliveries from wrist-spinner Seekkuga Prasanna in an over that cost 27 runs.
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Altogether, Hales hit six sixes and his batting was imperious and brutal.
Roy cleared the boundary four times on his way to his second ODI hundred.
He got there in the grand matter, too, with a straight six off Prasanna.
It was further evidence of England’s powerful and aggressive style although, of course, there are plenty more dangerous teams in the world than these Sri Lankans.
Earlier, England restricted Sri Lanka to 254-7 in 50 overs. Several of their batsmen threatened, but none went on to a match-changing score.
Adil Rashid was again England’s most economical bowler, taking 2-34 in his ten overs.
He could push Moeen Ali to be the No.1 spinner in the Test series against Pakistan starting next month.
Aussie umpire Bruce Oxenford wore a revolutionary arm protector to try to make sure he wasn’t hurt by flying balls.
The Aussie came out with a round piece of 6mm thick, see-through polycarbonate , weighing 1.1 kgs, on his left arm. In addition to the shield covering his hand, Oxenford wore further protection on his left forearm.
Oxenford used the guard during the Indian Premier League earlier this year but this was the first time it has been seen in an international match or any game in England.