[Watch] Ben Stokes Gets To Fifty In Style In Comeback ODI Against New Zealand
Ben Stokes in action against NZ (Twitter)
Ben Stokes slapped a sparkling half-century in his comeback ODI against New Zealand in Cardiff. The cricketer belted his way to 52, and formed an 88-run stand with captain Jos Buttler.
Stokes’ innings marked one of the four half-centuries from the English innings, as they mounted 291-6 from their 50 overs.
Ben Stokes’ powerful club completes his 50
Ben Stokes arrived at the crease in the 16th over of the English innings, following the successive dismissals of both openers Harry Brook and Dawid Malan. The all-rounder also lost senior partner Joe Root a while later, thus leaving him to rebuild the innings together with captain Joe Buttler.
Stokes, when on 46*, raised his 50 with a slap towards deep backward square off New Zealand’s high-flying spinner Rachin Ravindra.
Watch: Ben Stokes completes fifty with utter disdain
Unfortunately for the left-hander, he was picked out at cover a couple of deliveries later in the same over. Stokes eventually walked back to the crease after having scored 52 from 69 balls, an innings laced with one six and three boundaries.
Half-century from Malan at the top, coupled with Jos Buttler and Liam Livingstone’s thunderous knocks guided hosts to a competitive 291-6.
Remarkably, the ongoing series marks Ben Stokes’ first set of ODI matches since his apparent retirement from the format last year. The cricketer was fast-tracked back into the side for England’s upcoming title-defence at the 2023 World Cup in India.
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