Ben Stokes' Blistering Century Keeps England's Hopes Alive at Lord's
Ben Stokes switched gears after Jonny Bairstow's dismissal (ICC Twitter)
England captain, Ben Stokes, brought up his 13th Test century against Australia in the ongoing second Test of the Ashes 2023 at the Lord's in London.
What rendered this milestone truly extraordinary was the breathtaking manner in which the left-handed maestro reached his century, employing what can only be described as a "Bazball" style assault as he mercilessly dispatched Cameron Green's deliveries for three consecutive sixes.
Ben Stokes' century has kept England in the hunt
Resuming his innings with an overnight score of 29, Stokes added 63 runs alongside Ben Duckett before the latter’s innings was curtailed at 83. As fate would have it, the stage was set for the entry of Jonny Bairstow, who would unfortunately become embroiled in a peculiar and controversial incident that left English supporters seething with rage.
The England stumper found himself become a victim of a bizarre runout. A seemingly innocuous stroll out of the crease to engage in a conversation with his batting partner was met with an astonishing act from Australian wicket-keeper Alex Carey, who seized the opportunity to execute a swift and unexpected dismissal. The dismissal left spectators dumbfounded and has fueled a maelstrom of debate.
The England skipper, like a dormant volcano awakened, unleashed his inner beast and went berserk against the Australian bowlers as he pummeled them mercilessly to all corners of the ground. Despite being on 62 off 126 balls during Bairstow's untimely exit, Stokes added 38 runs in just 16 deliveries to reach his century in grand fashion.
Bearing witness to Stokes' wrath, Cameron Green found himself at the receiving end of a merciless assault. After conceding three boundaries in the 54th over, Green's misfortune was sealed as Stokes unleashed his fury, bludgeoning him for a boundary and three sixes in his ensuing over to complete his 13th Test ton.
At Lunch on Day 5, England find themselves at 243/6. Stokes is unbeaten on 108, while Stuart Broad has just begun his innings at 1. The hosts require another 128 runs to secure a victory, with two sessions remaining in the match. On the other hand, the visitors will look to claim the remaining four more wickets to take a 2-0 lead in the series.
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