England's swashbuckling all-rounder Ben Stokes scored his maiden ODI World Cup hundred against the Netherlands at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune. Stokes smashed the third-fastest century for an England batter in World Cup history from 78 balls. It is also England's fastest World Cup century away from home.
Former England captain Eoin Morgan holds the record with a 57-ball century against Afghanistan in the 2019 World Cup at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester. In the same edition, wicketkeeper-batter and current captain Jos Buttler reached his century from 75 balls against Pakistan at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.
Stokes' previous highest World Cup score was 89. He scored 89 runs from 115 balls in a losing cause against Australia in the previous edition.
Stokes became the only sixth England batter to score a century in World Cups batting at no.4.
The all-rounder walked out to bat in the 21st over when Joe Root got bowled trying to play a reverse ramp shot against Logan van Beek. In the next over, Dawid Malan got run out after a mix-up with Stokes. He scored 87 runs from 74 balls. Harry Brook, Jos Buttler, and Moeen Ali departed for their respective single-digit score as England were reduced to 192/5 in the 36th over.
England needed a partnership and Stokes' catch was dropped by Aryan Dutt in the 39th over. He was batting on 41. Stokes and Chris Woakes shared a crucial partnership and set a platform for a big score. Stokes also became the fourth batter after Graham Gooch, Root, and Graeme Hick with seven or more fifty-plus scores in World Cups.
In the 45th over, Stokes capitalised on Dutt's mistakes. He smashed him for three sixes and a four. In the 48th over, he reached his century from 48th over. After Woakes and David Willey were dismissed in the penultimate over, Stokes hit Van Beek for a maximum in the final over. But he could not pick the slower ball and got caught at long-off. He scored 108 runs from 84 balls featuring six fours and as many sixes.
Stokes and Woakes shared a 129-run partnership, the second-highest for the seventh wicket in World Cups. The partnership helped England post 339/9 against the Dutch side.
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