Although their chances of reaching the tournament final had already evaporated, England made an emphatic statement with the bat during their closing fixture of the ODI tri-series in Pakistan. Taking the field at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, England were invited to set a target after the opposition won the toss and opted to bowl. Capitalising on favourable batting conditions, the English side mounted an imposing total of 386 for five across their 50 overs, driven by a dominant masterclass from opener Ben Duckett, who notched his second century of the competition.
Ground Strokes Guide Duckett to Career-Best ODI Knock
Setting the tempo from the outset, Ben Duckett constructed a magnificent 167 off 132 deliveries, anchoring the English innings with supreme authority. His knock featured 24 boundaries caressed through gaps across the turf, but remarkably did not contain a single six. This effort represents his highest individual score in 50-over international cricket. The left-hander remained at the crease until the 42nd over, eventually falling on the fourth ball of over 41.4 while attempting to accelerate England's push toward an insurmountable total.
The Rare Feat of Crossing 150 Without a Single Maximum
In the modern era of power-hitting, constructing a massive one-day score exclusively through running between the wickets and piercing the infield has become an exceptional rarity. Duckett is only the seventh player in the history of ODI cricket to surpass the 150-run benchmark in an innings without clearing the boundary ropes even once. This achievement aligns him with legendary names from previous generations.
- David Warner (Australia): The dynamic opener established the pinnacle for this feat by scoring 173 against South Africa in 2016 without a maximum.
- Ben Duckett (England): Put together 167 against Sri Lanka in 2026, leaning entirely on precision boundary placement.
- Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka): Registered 161 runs against Bangladesh during the 2015 season without lifting the ball over the rope.
- Hashim Amla (South Africa): Amassed 153 against West Indies in 2015 relying on exquisite timing and ground strokes.
- Brian Lara (West Indies): The batting maestro produced a classic 152 against Pakistan in 1993 without hitting a six.
- Sachin Tendulkar (India): Crafted an effortless 152 against Namibia in 2003 without clearing the ropes.
- Andrew Strauss (England): Reached 152 against Bangladesh in 2005 to etch his name into this specialised record list.
Near Miss for Brook's Benchmark in a Sparkling Series
The tri-series in Pakistan has seen Duckett showcase outstanding consistency at the top of the order. Across 4 matches, he aggregated 346 runs at an impressive average of 86.50, converting two of those knocks into triple-figure scores. During his stay in Lahore, he also had an outside opportunity to eclipse the mark established by his captain Harry Brook, an accomplishment that required him to reach 203 runs. His dismissal in the 42nd over while pushing for quick late-innings runs ended that pursuit, yet his authoritative batting confirmed his commanding touch throughout the tour.
