World Cup 2023, ENG vs NED: Stokes Hits Counter-Attacking Ton As England Post 339/9

Pune: In their penultimate World Cup match, Ben Stokes played a crucial role in England’s performance against the Netherlands, scoring an attacking century. England posted a total of 339 for nine. While both teams are already out of contention for the semifinals, this match holds significance for the 2025 Champions Trophy qualification, with only the top seven teams from this tournament earning a spot.

Stokes contributed 108 runs from 83 balls, initially providing stability and later accelerating his innings. Dawid Malan was explosive at the top, scoring 87 off 74 balls, hitting 10 fours and 2 sixes. Chris Woakes added a valuable 51 runs from 45 balls. Jonny Bairstow and Malan got England off to a brisk start after opting to bat.

Malan’s aggressive approach included flicking and driving Logan van Beek for consecutive boundaries early on. He continued his attack against spinner Aryan Dutt, adding more boundaries. England’s boundaries kept flowing, and Malan reached his fifty in just 37 balls.

Malan and Joe Root cautiously built the innings, with Malan hitting the first six of the innings. However, two quick wickets in consecutive overs, including Malan’s run-out, halted England’s progress. Harry Brook fell quickly, and England’s skipper Jos Buttler also struggled and was dismissed.

Dutch spinners made a comeback, reducing England to 192 for six by the 36th over. But Stokes and Woakes staged a remarkable partnership, adding 129 runs for the seventh wicket and guiding England past the 300-run mark.