England Test skipper Ben Stokes put on a show with the bat on Day 5 of the second Ashes Test against Australia at Lord’s.
Chasing 371 to win, the Three Lions reached 114/4 at stumps on Day 4, needing 257 more runs on the final day.
The hosts lost opener Ben Duckett (83) and Jonny Bairstow (10) in the morning session but Stokes held the one end firmly. The England captain was batting steadily on 62 off 126 balls but Bairstow’s controversial run-out brought the beast inside him.
The southpaw put the ‘Bazball’ on display as he notched up his 13th Test century in the next 16 balls. He smashed Cameron Green for three consecutive sixes to reach the three-figure mark.
Stokes continued his carnage after the milestone as well, mostly dealing in sixes. He brought up his 150 off 197 balls to keep England alive in the contest.
At this point, it seemed that Ben Stokes would replicate his heroics of Headingly Test from the Ashes 2019. However, it wasn’t to be as Josh Hazlewood dismissed him in the 73rd over for 155 off 214 balls, including 9 fours and 9 sixes.
Stokes’ dismissal ended the 108-run partnership between him and Stuart Broad and the home side still needed 70 runs with three wickets in hand when he got out.
For his breathtaking knock under immense pressure, Ben Stokes received rich praise from the cricket fraternity on Twitter.
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