Live Cricket Score of England vs Pakistan, 3rd ODI at Nottingham

For the second time on their long-drawn tour of the United Kingdom, Pakistan have their backs to the wall. From the moment both teams swapped their white flannels for One-Day International (ODI) kits, the hosts have been clinical, leaving little room for optimism for Azhar Ali's men.

The visitors, however, needn't look too far for inspiration. Eoin Morgan's England were in a similar situation when they made an early exit from 2015 World Cup. Eulogies were being written regarding England's limited-overs prowess. While Alastair Cook's Test side was doing fine, there was a belief that England's ODI team was not in touch with the reality of the swiftly-progressing game where stroke-making had found a new, menacing meaning and the boundary for totals were being shattered.

A year-and-a-half on, England have the look of one of the finest ODI sides in the world currently, with genuine match-winners occupying several positions in the line-up. If the first two matches are evidence, Pakistan seem to be lagging behind, much like England did in early 2015, with batsmen not capable of upping their game to match the sky-rocketing demands of the current times when totals in excess of 300 are being scored in every second fixture. In the two matches so far, Pakistan have opted to bat first and managed total of just 260 and 245, which England have scaled down with ease.

The visitors have ordinary numbers in the final powerplay, scoring at an average of under seven-runs-an-over in the last 10 ODIs. If the series is to be salvaged, Azhar Ali & Co. are in desperate need of bringing about a change in that aspect. Ali started well with an 82, but faltered in the second match. Sarfraz Ahmed has shown solidity in the middle-order and Imad Wasim too impressed with an all-round show in the second fixture, but the pair need the top three batsmen to lay a sound foundation.

As for England, they will go into the fixture with the confidence of killing the series. They may have made heavy-weather of a straightforward chase in the second ODI, but the middle-order crux of Joe Root, Eoin Morgan and Ben Stokes kept Pakistan at an arm's length. The only possible cause of worry could be Alex Hales's form. The swashbuckling opener had a fine start to his 2016, but endured a tough time in the Tests. He has registered scores of 7 and 14 in the two ODIs, and will hope to shrug off poor form at Trent Bridge.

The venue has become flat over the years and could have plenty of runs in it, but there is a little bit of optimism for bowlers who can get the ball to swing.

England have reached 177 for 1 in 27 overs with a centurion and their best batsman across formats in the middle. The pair has already added 144 runs for the second wicket and look likely to pile on further more against what has been toothless bowling from Pakistan. Could Hales beat Robin Smith's 166* too?

Pakistan are being beaten to pulp here. England have gone from 204 off 30 overs to 309 off 40 overs! With Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler in the middle, 400 is surely possible. The two men are surely going to throw their bat around at absolutely everything in the powerplay overs.

Even by current standards of ODIs, England's absolute annihilation of Pakistan in the third fixture, thereby amassing the highest-ever total of the format - 444, was jaw-dropping. Local boy Alex Hales shrugged off a brief slump in form with some style as his record-breaking essay was a fine example of what New England have come to represent - start well, consolidate and make the most of the platform. Hales had his team's best batsman, Joe Root, for company as the two went about repairing the early hiccup that came in the form of Jason Roy's wicket.Hasan Ali enjoyed the opening scalp but as the day panned out, that wicket went on to be Pakistan's best moment for a long time on a tough day in the field. The signs were ominous as England seamlessly shifted gears once the pair had settled in. They scored 56 runs between the 18th and the 23rd over. Pakistan nearly saw the back of Hales, when he pulled Wahab straight to deep square leg, but much to the visitors' agony, the bowler had overstepped. Hales made most of the reprieve to get to his century in the 25th over. The signs were ominous as England went past 200 in 30 overs.There was more history to be made as Hales broke an England record that stood for 23 years, surpassing Robin Smith's highest individual score of 167*. He got there with a four from 167, but fell right away. His batting partner Root, who had been the perfect foil and was also scoring at run a ball, followed suit and fell for 85 off 86 deliveries.If Pakistan managed to heave a sigh of relief, that was only momentary, as Jos Buttler and Eoin Morgan came together to make way for more mayhem. Buttler scored the fastest ODI fifty by an England batsman - off 22 balls and finished with 90 off 51 deliveries, while Morgan scored a 27-ball 57.At the end of the innings, Wahab had bowling figures of none for 110, only three behind the worst figures held by Australia's Mick Lewis. Pakistan dropped two catches, had two wickets cancelled off no-balls and conceded 43 fours and 16 sixes. England finished the innings with a six to reach the highest ever ODI total of 444 for 3, adding more to their status as one of the most devastating ODI sides.

That's that then! England have taken a 3-0 series as Amir top-edges a short ball from Woakes and the bowler completes the catch to end Pakistan's essay on 275, giving his side a 169-run victory. Pakistan were thoroughly tormented on the field and didn't show much change with the bat either. Barring a few crisp shots from Sharjeel Khan, the rest of the batting seemed a constant struggle as the mammoth target kept inching away from them. Amir arrived and enthralled the few Pakistan fans in the stands with his big heaves, but he fell for a record score of 58, from just 28 balls, to bring down the curtains on his team's essay.