The world of cricket witnessed a masterclass as Ben Stokes produced a record-busting 182 against New Zealand during the third ODI at The Oval on Wednesday, September 14. This scintillating innings by Stokes surpassed the previous highest individual score for England set by Jason Roy, a 180 against Australia back in 2018. With Stokes' mammoth contribution, England posted a daunting 368-run target, leading them to a significant 181-run triumph over the Kiwis.
In the post-match presentation, a light-hearted Ben Stokes remarked, "Really pleased. Apologise to Jason (Jason Roy - for breaking his record). We aimed to pressure New Zealand from the start, and even with the early losses, our intent remained positive. We strived to keep their bowlers unsettled. As seasoned cricketers, it's upon us to lead the younger generation." He went on to praise Dawid Malan's consistency and contribution and expressed relief over his own improving fitness.
Setting the scene of the match, England, after being elected to bat first by New Zealand, faced an early setback at 13/2. It was then that Stokes walked to the crease, proving to be a game-changer. A staggering 199-run third-wicket partnership with Dawid Malan (who scored 96 off 95 deliveries) and a subsequent 78-run stand with captain Jos Buttler steered England to their substantial total of 368. However, this feat didn't come without challenges as England experienced a lower-order tumble.
For the New Zealand bowling line-up, Trent Boult emerged as the standout performer with 5/51, while Ben Lister chipped in with 3/69.
The Kiwis' batting response was nothing short of a debacle. The fearsome English pace combination of Chris Woakes, Reece Topley, and Sam Curran left the visitors reeling at 70/5. Although Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra made some effort to stabilize with their respective scores of 72 and 28, New Zealand was eventually bundled out for a mere 187 in just 39 overs.
For England, Woakes and Livingstone were the bowling heroes, securing three wickets each. Topley contributed with a brace, while Curran and Moeen Ali managed to get a scalp each.
For his outstanding contribution with the bat, Ben Stokes was rightfully named the 'Player of the Match'. With this spectacular win, England is now one step closer to sealing the series, leading 2-1 with one more game left in the series.
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