Record-breaker Alex Hales needed the confirmation of his home crowd at Trent Bridge to convince him he had made England's highest one-day international score.

The former Chesham Grammar School pupil’s 171 surpassed a 23-year-old previous best by an England batsman, Robin Smith's 167 not out against Australia at Edgbaston.

For good measure, on a day when a raft of records were eclipsed, England cashed in on Hales' return to form to set a new world-best total of 444 for three on the way to a series-sealing victory by 169 runs against Pakistan.

Yet even after he had hit Hasan Ali over midwicket for his 22nd four, it was not until the Nottingham crowd stood and cheered in appreciation of their own hero that Hales knew he had set a new benchmark.

Memories of his opening partner Jason Roy's near miss with 162 against Sri Lanka at The Oval earlier this season kept Hales in the loop.

"I knew I was I closing in," he said.

"Obviously Jason was close at The Oval, so I knew I was close.

"When I heard the cheer going round the ground I knew something was happening, but at the time I was unaware.

"It's a special feeling."

Hales badly needed a significant contribution, after his Test summer finished on a low at The Oval and he began this Royal London Series with two failures as well.

He figured in a stand of 248 with Joe Root (85), before Jos Buttler (90no) took over with England's fastest ODI 50 from 22 balls in an unbroken partnership of 161 with Eoin Morgan (57no).

Despite defiant half-centuries from Sharjeel Khan and Mohammad Amir - both with 58 - at either end of the Pakistan card, the tourists were then bowled out for 275 to concede a 3-0 series lead with only two matches left.

For Hales, the satisfaction was evident - especially at his "ground of choice" Trent Bridge.

"It's been a tough few weeks personally," he said.

"The Test series didn't go to plan - but when it comes to the white ball in the last 12 months, I've felt in good form.

"I was always confident heading into this series, and it's nice to put it right tonight.

"The summer has had plenty of ups and downs.

"I did well against Sri Lanka, but didn't do myself justice against Pakistan [in the Tests].

"It's nice to try and sweep that under the rug and move forwards."

Morgan's opposite number Azhar Ali had little to smile about, and conceded Pakistan did not help themselves with a shoddy performance in the field.

"Once the batsmen start going, it's hard to stop them," he said.