(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] Ben Stokes, a key member of the England World Cup 2019-winning team, is an absolute force. The tough lad, in the third ODI match against New Zealand at The Kennington Oval in London, played a spectacular knock, scoring 182 runs off just 124 balls. His super performance included 15 fours and nine sixes.
Stokes, who bid adieu to ODI cricket in July 2022, came out of retirement for the upcoming ICC World Cup. In his first ODI series back from retirement, he scored 52 and one in the first two fixtures. However, on Thursday, with his remarkable 182-run innings, he has made a resounding comeback in the 50-over format.
Stokes came to the crease when England were struggling at 13/2. He took his time to reach fifty, but once he crossed that milestone, he never looked back, smashing his fourth ODI hundred in just 76 deliveries – his fastest in ODI cricket and his first century in the format since 2017.
Stokes shattered numerous records with his colossal score of 182. The southpaw now holds the feat of the highest individual score for England in the ODI format, surpassing Jason Roy’s 180 against Australia in 2018. Stokes narrowly missed the opportunity to become England’s first double centurion in ODI cricket by just 18 runs.
Additionally, his century ranks as the 12th fastest among the 63 ODI centuries scored by full-member nation players in 2023.
Furthermore, England opener Dawid Malan also had a standout performance in the 3rd ODI. He weathered the storm of the Kiwi pacer Trent Boult, who had already dismissed Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root. Malan scored 96 runs off 95 balls and formed a brilliant third- wicket stand with Stokes, amassing 199 runs. This is the highest partnership against New Zealand for any wicket, eclipsing the 198-run stand between former captains Joe Root and Eoin Morgan in Nottingham in 2015.