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Ben Stokes warmed up for the ODI Cricket World Cup in India with a sparkling 182 in 3rd ODI between England and New Zealand at The Oval in London on Wednesday, September 13. This marked the highest individual score posted by an Englishman in the format, surpassing teammate Jason Roy's 180 against Australia in 2018.
Having reversed his retirement from the format to make himself available for the marquee event, Stokes has taken little time to reiterate his worth to the setup even if it is as a pure batter alone. After a dogged half-century in the first game of this four-match series, he has backed it up with a superbly paced hundred.
Stokes walked in with the score reading 13/2 in the fourth over. He made merry in the company of Dawid Malan as the duo ransacked plenty of runs on a flat deck, leaving New Zealand's bowlers clueless.
Fans took to X (formerly Twitter) as they were awestruck by Stokes' belligerent innings that saw him get to his fourth ODI ton off a mere 76 deliveries.
Here are some of the reactions:
England bowled out for 368 after Ben Stokes clobbers Blackcaps
England lost another toss and were asked to bat first in the third ODI against New Zealand.
It took Trent Boult one delivery to strike as Jonny Bairstow departed for a golden duck. Joe Root's poor series continued as he played onto his stumps for just four runs.
That's when Stokes joined opener Dawid Malan as the duo took their time initially to rebuild the innings. A steady partnership followed, and with the pitch having plenty of runs written all over it, the duo upped the ante and notched up their respective half-centuries.
Stokes played the role of the primary aggressor and blitzed along to deal in fours and sixes alone. A punch down the ground off Glenn Phillips' bowling saw Stokes raise his century off his 76th delivery before he looked up to the heavens in appreciation of his late father Gerard. He posted a partnership of 199 for the third wicket with Malan, who was dismissed by Boult for a chanceless 95-ball 96 himself.
He continued to butcher the bowlers at will and raced to 150, which soon seemed to head towards the first double-hundred by an Englishman in ODIs. While that wasn't to be, departed for a 124-ball 182 studded with 15 fours and nine sixes, falling to Ben Lister in the 45th over.
Thereafter, England lost their way in a bid to keep powering along and were bowled out for 368 one delivery into the 49th over. Amidst all the carnage, Boult finished with returns of 5/51 off 9.1 overs to give New Zealand a ray of hope when they come out to bat as they seek to take a 2-1 lead in the series.
Does Ben Stokes' return make England the favorites for the 2023 World Cup? Have your say in the comments section below!
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