Ashes 2019: Cricket fraternity in awe of Ben Stokes’ masterful 135* as England beats Australia by one wicket

England won the match by 1 wicket and kept the Ashes alive at 1-1 with two Tests to go.

Ben Stokes soaking in all the applause after winning the match | GettyThere is no doubt that Ben Stokes is a special player and he proved why he is definitely one of the greatest all-rounders in the modern era. He is expected to turn around matches single-handedly for England and he has done the same, with the latest example being the ICC World Cup 2019 final.

However, he showed that he could do it in the traditional format of the game as well in Tests, as he singlehandedly took England to an improbable win in the third Ashes 2019 Test at Leeds, Headingley. The home team was in danger of losing the Ashes urn after being bowled out for 67 in the first innings and then needing over 200 runs on the last day with seven wickets in hand.

Australia started off well by removing the England skipper Root early for 77 and then it was all Stokes versus Australian bowling lineup. He grudged it out with Bairstow giving him some support with a score of 36, but then the Kangaroos struck by removing him, Buttler and Woakes in succession. Archer showed a glimmer of hope with 15, but even he fell with Broad making a two-ball duck.

Stokes (135*) changed his style of game with Leach for the company and farmed as much strike as possible. He made 74 runs in 42 balls after Broad’s wicket and hit seven sixes in that period, finishing up with 8- the most in a single innings in the history of Ashes series.

Finally, he hit the winning runs off Pat Cummins and all of England burst into cumulative joy, as no one had given England a chance of winning the Test after being bowled out for 67 in the 1st innings.

The international cricket fraternity took to Twitter to praised Stokes and England team as they draw level in ongoing Ashes series.

Here are the tweets:

 

 
 

By Jatin Sharma - 25 Aug, 2019

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