ENG vs NZ: Ben Stokes Smashes England Record With Scintillating 182-Run Knock Against New Zealand

Ben Stokes has hit the ground running in ODI cricket after reversing his retirement. The England superstar had announced his retirement from the 50-over format in July last year but decided to come out of retirement to help his team defend the World Cup title.

He made his return to ODIs in the ongoing four-match series against New Zealand at home. In his comeback game, Ben Stokes played a 52-run knock before being dismissed for 1 in the second ODI. And on Wednesday (September 13), the England Test captain created history by playing a monumental knock of 182 runs and giving his team an unassailable lead in the series.

Ben Stokes now holds the record for the highest individual score by an England player in ODIs. The left-handed batter broke the record held by Jason Roy who had scored 180 against Australia in Melbourne in 2018. Ben Stokes’ knock came off just 124 balls and was studded with 15 fours and 9 sixes.

Ben Stokes powers England to win:

Asked to bat first, England were off to a poor start once again as Trent Boult caused problems for the top-order again. The left-arm pacer dismissed Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root cheaply to leave England reeling 13 for 2. But before the visitors could make more inroads, Dawid Malan and Ben Stokes shared a huge partnership of 199 runs to get the England innings back on track.

Boult broke the stand by dismissing Malan for 96. But unlike Malan, Ben Stokes made the most his start and scored a scintillating century in just 76 balls. There was absolutely no stopping the allrounder as he kept taking the New Zealand bowlers to the cleaners.

He was looking destined to become the first England batter to score a double century in ODIs but eventually fell short by 18 runs. Ben Lister send him back in the 45th over. The floodgates opened after his departure and England lost their last 4 wickets for just 20 runs to be all out for 368. The score, however, was more than enough to win the game as they bowled out New Zealand for 187.