Record-breaking Alex Hales hits astonishing 187 not out as he smashes Nottinghamshire to Royal London Cup victory in solo batting stunner

Jul 01, 2017

ALEX HALES produced one of the most astonishing white ball innings in county history and swept Nottinghamshire to glory virtually on his own.

England opener Hales scored a barely-conceivable 187 not out against Surrey in the Royal London Cup final and increased his list of record-breaking feats.

Alex Hales celebrates winning the Royal London Cup after his staggering feats with the bat

Alex Hales celebrates with teammate Chris Read after winning the match during the One Day Cup Final at Lord’s[/caption]

It was the highest score ever made in a domestic one-day final – beating Geoff Boycott’s 146 in 1965 – and Notts won by four wickets with 13 balls to spare.

Hales already holds the England 50-over and Twenty20 records.

He finished with almost two-thirds of Notts’ total and skipper Chris Read, aged 39 and in his final season, aided the run chase with a bustling half-century.

Another opener – Surrey’s Mark Stoneman – scored 144 not out just hours after hearing he will not make his Test debut against South Africa on Thursday.

Left-hander Stoneman was widely touted but England’s selectors instead gave the opener’s job to Keaton Jennings and brought back Gary Ballance, as revealed by SunSport.

Fair play to Stoneman, he cast aside his disappointment and played an innings that would have grabbed all the headlines but for Hales’ blitzkrieg.

England opener Hales scored a barely-conceivable 187 not out against Surrey[/caption]

It was the highest score ever made in a domestic one-day final[/caption]

Alex Hales and James Pattinson hug it out as they celebrate[/caption]

Celebrations underway as the match comes to an end[/caption]

Surrey have now played in three successive 50-over finals – and lost the lot.

It might have been different if young Surrey batsman Ollie Pope had not dropped a simple catch at cover when Hales had scored just nine.

The 6ft 5ins batsman made Surrey pay with a devastating array of shots and he struck four sixes and 20 fours.

James Pattinson celebrates after scoring the winning run at the end of the match[/caption]

Nottinghamshire’s Chris Read lifts the trophy during the One Day Cup Final[/caption]

Nottinghamshire’s Stuart Broad celebrates with the trophy[/caption]

Alex Hales celebrates with Stuart Broad[/caption]

Hales said: “That’s as good as it gets. It’s a huge victory for the club and my innings is definitely right up there among the best I have played.”

Meanwhile, Jennings prepares for his first home Test insisting he will learn from run-scoring and mental toughness of Alastair Cook.

The pair will open England’s innings on Thursday and Jennings explained: “Anybody who comes into the England environment can learn from Cooky.

“His mental toughness to get through those hard periods is incredible. It takes a serious man to score 11,000 Test runs as an opener. Hopefully, I continue to get the opportunity to open the batting with Cooky for years to come.”