Ben Stokes innovative reverse sweep helps him get 100. Ben Stokes batted brilliantly for 108 runs (84) with six fours and six sixes.
England all-rounder Ben Stokes hit his maiden ODI World Cup century, scoring 108 (84) against Netherlands in Match 40 of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 on Wednesday, November 8 at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. England scored a tremendous total of 339/9 in their stipulated 50 overs thanks to his effort.
Stokes’ innings featured six fours and six sixes as he had a 129-run partnership with Chris Woakes for the seventh wicket off only 80 balls. On the fifth ball of the 48th over, the southpaw hit his three-figure milestone with a spectacular reverse sweep to find a boundary towards third man. As a consequence, Stokes hit the century mark in 78 balls, and his second fifty came in just 20 balls.
Watch the Ben Stokes innovative reverse sweep shot here:
It was Stokes’ second fifty-plus score in the present World Cup, following his stunning 64 (90) against Australia in Ahmedabad, although in a losing cause. So far in the competition, the 32-year-old has scored 220 runs in five innings at an average of 44 and a strike rate of 83.01.
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Dawid Malan scored 87 (94) earlier in the innings
Chris Woakes, who struck 51 off 45 balls with five fours and a six, also contributed to Stokes’ half-century. Earlier in the innings, Dawid Malan was run out for 87 (94) and therefore missed out on his second century of the competition.
Malan and Jonny Bairstow put up 48 runs for the first wicket off 42 balls before Malan and Joe Root put on an 85-run stand for the second wicket. The southpaw hit six fours and six sixes in his innings, assisting England in maintaining a run rate of more than six.
Meanwhile, Bas de Leede was the standout of the Dutch bowlers, taking 3/74 in 10 overs, while Logan van Beek (2/88) and Aryan Dutt (2/67) also took two wickets.
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