Eoin Morgan broke the record for the number of sixes in a one-day international with an astonishing display of hitting in England’s 150-run World Cup win over Afghanistan.

The captain hammered 17 sixes in making 148 from 71 balls, his outrageous and audacious ball-striking providing stunning entertainment to an Old Trafford crowd that lapped it up.

Morgan went past the previous best of 16, jointly held by Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers and Rohit Sharma, and England’s total of 25 sixes also set a new record for any team in an ODI innings.

Jonny Bairstow made 90 and Joe Root 88 as the hosts racked up 397-6, their highest total in a World Cup match, bettering the 386-6 they piled on against Bangladesh only 10 days ago.

There was never any danger of Afghanistan even getting close to succeeding in the run-chase and they ended a processional second half of the game on 247-8.

The win lifts England to the top of the 10-team table, ahead of Australia on net run-rate.

Victory against Sri Lanka on Saturday will leave England on the verge of the semi-finals.