Stokes special lifts England to crushing victory over New Zealand

Ben Stokes smashed the highest score by an Englishman in ODI cricket history to take England to a monumental 181-run victory in the third ODI against New Zealand at the Oval. The all-rounder’s sensational 124-ball 182 lifted the hosts to a towering score of 368 before the Blackcaps folded for 187 in response to give England a 2-1 lead in the series.

Having been asked to bat first, England stuttered against the new ball as Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root departed early. Devon Conway took a stunning catch to dismiss the opener off the first ball of the innings, while Root managed another low score against the Kiwis, chopping on against Boult an over later.

The two early breakthroughs brought Ben Stokes to the crease inside three overs, and the all-rounder cashed in on his opportunity to bat through the innings. After starting anxiously, Stokes settled nicely after the powerplay and would go on to add 199 runs for the third wicket with Dawid Malan.

Malan was cruelly denied a century after strangling one down the leg side on 96, but Stokes put on a batting clinic at the Oval to score his fourth ODI ton. The left-hander struck nine sixes in his blistering knock, punishing the Kiwi spinners Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra in devastating fashion. Stokes also put on an entertaining 78-run stand with Jos Buttler from just 46 balls and went on to finish with 182 from 124 deliveries to break Jason Roy’s record for the highest score for England in ODIs.

England capitulated after the all-rounder departed in the 45th over, losing their last five wickets for 20 runs. However, with 368 on the board, the hosts had more than enough runs to see out the victory.

The New Zealand chase started poorly, with Will Young nicking off against Chris Woakes in the fourth over before his partner Devon Conway fell lbw to Topley a few balls later. Woakes also removed Henry Nicholls and Tom Latham in his extended opening spell, reducing the Blackcaps to 37/4.

Sam Curran made it 70/5 by removing Daryl Mitchell, but Glenn Phillips did offer some respite to the Blackcaps, scoring a well-made half-century to reduce the margin of defeat. Liam Livingstone eventually dismissed the all-rounder on 72 and also added the final two wickets to bowl the Blackcaps out for 187 and complete a clinical win for the hosts.