Harry Brook runs wild in Rawalpindi to surpass Shubman Gill's record for fastest ODI double century as England post 429/4

Rawalpindi is known in the cricketing world for its speed and pace. The Pakistani city was the birthplace of the fastest bowler to ever play the game, but Harry Brook brought a batting storm to Rawalpindi on Thursday when he scored the fastest double century in ODIs against Sri Lanka in the ongoing tri-series that also includes Pakistan.Brook reached the milestone in 114 balls in the last over of the innings, hitting four off Janith Liyanage. He became the first English batsman to score a double century in ODIs, surpassing the record held by Indian captain Shubman Gill, who reached the landmark in 117 balls against West Indies in the second ODI last month.Fastest ODI double hundreds (by balls)

114 – Harry Brook vs SL, Rawalpindi, 2026
117 – Shubman Gill Vs. WI, Guwahati, 2026
126 – Ishan Kishan vs BAN, Chattogram, 2022
128 – Glenn Maxwell vs AFG, Mumbai WS, 2023
136 – Pathum Nissanka vs AFG, Pallekele, 2024

Brook finished with 202 off 116 balls, including 21 fours and 10 sixes, as England piled up 429/4 to give their bowlers a huge number to defend. England’s score was the highest by any team in an ODI in Pakistan, with the visitors scoring 296 runs in the final 25 overs.England started solidly, with openers Tom Banton and Ben Duckett laying the foundations of a big unit. Banton scored a half-century before Joe Root and Brook added 159 runs for a crucial partnership that put England in control.Brook then took charge of the innings, attacking the Sri Lankan bowlers and finding boundaries regularly. His knock of 202 runs kept the pressure on the opposition and helped England maintain a high scoring rate in the latter stages of the innings.Root also made a valuable contribution, scoring 69 off 66 balls, while Will Jacks added 66 off just 30 deliveries. The two batsmen shared an important partnership with Brook as England progressed to the 430-run mark.Sri Lanka’s bowlers struggled to keep the score down, with Brook leading the charge and Banton and Jacks also scoring half-centuries. Dunith Wellalage was the top bowler taking two wickets for 56 runs while Asitha Fernando finished with 1/68.The rest of the Sri Lankan attack proved costly, with no other bowler managing to keep the economy rate below eight runs per over. England’s total of 429/4 left Sri Lanka with an uphill task in the chase.