In a remarkable display, Ben Stokes achieved a historic feat by scoring an unprecedented 182 runs, becoming the highest-scoring England batsman in a one-day international. His exceptional performance not only led to a resounding victory over New Zealand at The Oval but also sent a strong message to their World Cup competitors, as England prepares for their title defense in India in a few weeks.
England faced a challenging situation early in the match, with a score of 13-2 after Trent Boult’s quick double strike. However, Ben Stokes and Dawid Malan turned the tide with a crucial third-wicket partnership of 199, helping England recover to a total of 368 all out. Stokes played a standout innings, scoring 182 runs off 124 balls, breaking the previous England record of 180 set by Jason Roy.
Despite Stokes’s heroics, Trent Boult’s performance, taking five wickets for 51 runs, kept New Zealand in the game. England seemed on track for a massive total at 348-5 when Stokes was dismissed, but they lost their last five wickets for just 20 runs.
England’s bowlers, led by Chris Woakes with figures of 3-31, played a crucial role in dismissing New Zealand for 187. The absence of Kane Williamson due to injury weakened the New Zealand side, although Glenn Phillips contributed with a 72-run knock.
While Ben Stokes’s exceptional performance brought celebration, there were concerns about his chronic knee problem, which he aims to manage during the upcoming World Cup.
The return of Dawid Malan, who missed the previous game for the birth of his son, provided a significant boost to England. His 52-ball fifty highlighted his determination to secure a spot in the 15-man World Cup squad.
Stokes displayed his prowess by taking 15 runs off a single Lockie Ferguson over, including three fours and three massive sixes off spinner Rachin Ravindra.
