Harry Brook smashes 202 to become first England double-centurion in Rawalpindi

Harry Brook scored 202 off 116 balls to become the first England batter to make a double century in men's One-Day International cricket in Rawalpindi on Thursday, during the third match of the ODI tri-series. England finished on 429 for four in their 50 overs.

Brook reached the 200-mark in 114 deliveries, breaking Shubman Gill’s record for the fastest ODI double century, which Gill set in 117 balls when he scored an unbeaten 223 off 133 deliveries in Guwahati last month. Brook’s innings included 21 fours and 10 sixes and surpassed Ben Stokes’s 182 not out against New Zealand in 2023 as the highest individual ODI score by an England batter. He also became the second batter, alongside Chris Gayle, to register a triple hundred in Tests, a double ton in ODIs and a hundred in T20Is.

Brook came in at No. 4 after Ben Duckett’s dismissal with England two wickets down and began slowly, compiling 13 off 24 balls before accelerating; he scored 189 runs off his next 92 deliveries. He reached his century in 75 balls and 150 in 97, then completed the double with a ramped boundary off Janith Liyanage in the final over. Brook was dismissed off the last ball of the innings, caught at short third.

Joe Root provided support with 69 off 65 balls and became the first England batter to surpass 8,000 ODI runs in the innings. Opener Tom Banton made 50 and Will Jacks added a late 66 off 24 deliveries as England amassed a large total. The side scored 296 runs in the final 25 overs of their innings.

England’s 429 for four was the highest total recorded in an ODI played in Pakistan, placing Sri Lanka under enormous pressure in their pursuit of 430. The innings was also notable for Brook’s captaincy record, with all four of his ODI centuries coming since he assumed the leadership role.

Sri Lanka were left to chase 430 to win the match in Rawalpindi in the tri-series.