Cricket World Cup: Ben Stokes scored a century against Netherlands.© AFP
England all-rounder Ben Stokes, who played a vital role in England’s victory over Netherlands and also achieved his first century in the World Cup, focused more on the team’s success rather than his personal milestone. Stokes took charge against the opposition bowlers, scoring at a rapid pace, which lifted England’s score to over 300 and kept their hopes alive for a spot in the ICC Champions Trophy. After the match, Stokes was asked whether he was happier about England’s win or his personal performance, to which he replied, “I’m more thrilled about the victory (than scoring a century), this World Cup has been challenging for us.”
He also spoke about the crucial 129-run partnership he formed with Chris Woakes that set England on track for a score of over 300.
“It was a good pitch to bat on, with some unpredictable bounce. We (Woakes and I) built a strong partnership, and whenever there was pressure, I looked at the scoreboard and reminded myself that there was plenty of time left in the innings. I tried to stay focused and capitalize later on. Woakes is a valuable all-rounder for us, he has been a great cricketer for England over the past 2-3 years, and today he proved it,” Stokes added.
Turning to the match, Ben Stokes’ century and Moeen Ali’s three-wicket haul helped England secure a 160-run victory over Netherlands in the 40th ODI World Cup 2023 match at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune.
The Dutch players had a disappointing performance in the game, both with bat and ball, against England. Meanwhile, England secured their second win in the tournament.
After winning the toss, England chose to bat first and posted a total of 339/9. In response, the Dutch team had a promising start but failed to capitalize on the opportunities.
England’s clinical bowling effort ended their innings at 179 runs, resulting in a comprehensive 160-run win for England.
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