ENGLAND has opener Jason Roy to thank for making history overnight, after the nation posted its highest ever ODI total against Australia.

The hosts set Australia a target of 343 in the second ODI in Cardiff, after Roy staged a batting masterclass on his way to 120 runs off 108 deliveries.

Roy stepped up in the absence of injured captain Eoin Morgan, and after a series opener to forget in London.

The 27-year-old failed to make a run on Wednesday night after towering quick Billy Stanlake clean bowled him on the second ball of the innings.

But there wasn’t to be a repeat of the horror show in the second ODI in Cardiff, where Roy played to all corners of the ground to set his side up for a 2-0 series lead.

He remained largely untroubled by the Australian attack throughout his innings, and even multiple rain delays failed to derail the batsman.

Roy was eventually dismissed by Andrew Tye, who drew an inside edge from the opener with a ball that kept low, before Paine dived to his left to take a spectacular one-handed catch.

It was Roy’s first century in his last ten ODI appearances, and the fifth of his career.

The innings by Roy - along with an equally impressive 91 from in-form Jos Buttler - steered England to the historic total and further strengthened their grip on the series.