LONDON — Ben Stokes is in record-breaking type heading into the Cricket World Cup.
In clubbing 182 off 124 balls, Stokes made the best rating by an England participant in one-day internationals to arrange the group’s 181-run win over New Zealand within the third match of the collection at The Oval on Wednesday.
Stokes beat the earlier greatest mark by an England participant – 180 by Jason Roy towards Australia in Melbourne in 2018 – and posted the twenty fourth highest particular person rating ever within the 50-over format.
How he compiled his innings – a measured begin of 13 in 19 balls earlier than he opened his shoulders to hit 9 sixes and 15 fours – underlined why England was so eager to get Stokes out of ODI retirement forward of the group’s protection of the World Cup title in India beginning subsequent month.
England, which had Jonny Bairstow out first ball, was 13-2 after 16 balls when Stokes and Dawid Malan (96 off 95 balls) got here collectively and placed on a 199-run stand for the third wicket. A late collapse after the departure of Stokes ended with England all out for 368, with Trent Boult impressing with the figures of 5-51.
The New Zealanders have been lowered to 70-5 after recalled seamer Chris Woakes (3-31) eliminated three of the highest 5 within the batting order, and solely Glenn Phillips (72 off 76 balls) went large earlier than they have been bowled out for 187.
The vacationers can solely draw the collection now, with England 2-1 up heading into the ultimate match at Lord’s on Friday. The groups shared their current Twenty20 collection 2-2.
Stokes, England’s take a look at captain, has made a seamless return to the ODI a yr after retiring from the format due to what he described as an “unsustainable” schedule.
He made 52 within the first ODI and now has surpassed his earlier greatest ODI knock of 102, making his fourth hundred in 93 innings within the format.
His spot in England’s group for the World Cup – as solely a batter – is assured and so seems Malan’s after he got here up simply wanting his fifth ODI century, when he was caught behind off Boult.
Elsewhere, there is perhaps a couple of points growing within the batting lineup three weeks out from the match.
Roy was absent once more after having one other again spasm hours earlier than the match. The opener missed the primary two video games with the identical downside and will now be a doubt for the World Cup.
Harry Brook, who just isn’t within the provisional squad and is pushing to interchange Roy or one other batter, dropped out of the group to accommodate the return of Malan and has solely made 25 and a pair of on this collection.
Meanwhile, Joe Root was dismissed for 4 so as to add to scores of 6 and 0 this collection.
Also worrying Wednesday was the late-innings meltdown after Stokes’ dismissal when he was caught by Will Young at sq. leg off a full toss from pacer Ben Lister. From 348-5, England was all out 22 balls later for the addition of simply 20 runs.
As for the Black Caps, they neglected spinner Mitchell Santner after he jarred his knee fielding within the second ODI and have been utterly outplayed with bat and ball.
England and New Zealand meet within the first sport of the World Cup on Oct. 5.
Content Source: www.washingtontimes.com