Ben Stokes has made history with a staggering knock, shattering the record for the highest score by an England batter in a one-day international. In a stunning display of power and skill, Stokes bludgeoned his way to an astonishing 182 runs against New Zealand at The Oval.
The previous record of 180 was held by Jason Roy, achieved during a match against Australia in Melbourne back in 2018. Stokes, who had temporarily stepped away from one-day cricket, returned for this series and was determined to make a significant impact ahead of the World Cup in India later in the year.
In just his third match back, Stokes played a scintillating innings that propelled England to a total of 368 runs, putting them in a strong position to take a 2-1 lead in the four-match series. When Stokes joined the crease, England was in a precarious position at 13-2, but he turned the game around with his explosive performance.
During his innings, Stokes sent the ball over the boundary ropes nine times and found the fence with 15 powerful boundaries. His partnership with Dawid Malan, who contributed 96 runs, yielded a remarkable 199 runs – an England record for any wicket against New Zealand in ODIs.
Stokes didn't start aggressively, scoring no runs off his first six deliveries, but as he settled into his innings on a batting-friendly pitch, he began to dominate. He reached his century from just 76 balls and surpassed 150 with a colossal hit over cow corner.
As he approached the record, Stokes had a nervous moment when he survived an lbw review on 160 while attempting a reverse-hit. Ultimately, he etched his name in the record books with a towering shot for maximum, securing the highest score by an England batter in ODIs.
Despite the possibility of reaching 200, Stokes fell short when he mistimed a delivery, sending it to deep square leg, where Will Young took the catch. The crowd at The Oval erupted in applause when the announcement was made on the big screen, acknowledging Stokes' historic achievement.
While Stokes' 182 is a remarkable feat, the highest score in an ODI remains Rohit Sharma's 264 for India against Sri Lanka in 2014. Charlotte Edwards holds the record for the highest score by an England woman in an ODI, with her unbeaten 173 against Ireland in 1997.
Comments