England vs Netherlands: Ben Stokes turns back the clock with valiant century against the Dutch

England finally got a few things right in their big win over the Netherlands in their penultimate Cricket World Cup in Pune on Wednesday. Much like in their victory over Bangladesh earlier in the tournament, Dawid Malan stepped up, but this time around it was a special effort from Ben Stokes that went a long way in defining England’s win.

World Cup 2023: News | Schedule | Results | Points table

With England coming into the match having been knocked out of the World Cup, all they had left to play for was some pride, and fight for a spot in the 2025 Champions Trophy.

During the course of the tournament, it is that batting firepower that England have lacked, and even on Wednesday, there was not much from the reigning champions as far as batting was concerned, except for a special knock from their main man Ben Stokes.

Ben Stokes rescues England

Earlier, Malan had set the platform for a big total with a 74-ball 87 and after his dismissal in the 22^nd, it was up to Stokes to do the rest.

Stokes came in at number four, with England’s score reading 133/2. But a quick dismissal of his middle-order partners saw England go down to 192/6 in the 36^th. A total of 300 seemed a long way off at that time, but Stokes had other plans.

Stokes was initially cautious with his approach, collecting ones and twos with a few clips and pulls here and there. But, he soon got into a rhythm and collected his first boundary in the 25^th over with a clinical straight drive off Bas de Leede. Stokes would once again pull de Leede behind square for another boundary in the 29^th, but then the boundaries would soon begin to dry up. This was at a time when England were half the side down, so Stokes had to play with caution.

He had Moeen Ali at the other end, but Moeen (4) would end up without making much impact.

It was only when Chris Woakes walked into bat at number eight that the entire dynamic of the game would change.

Stokes did survive a dismissal in the 43^rd over when he was dropped by Aryan Dutt at the boundary ropes, but not long after this, Stokes changed gears to come up with a more aggressive approach.

ENG vs NED: Stokes’ special ton, Root gets nutmegged and other top moments

Stokes would get onto his fifty in 58 balls, and in the second half of his knock, it was more about the Stokes we know. Only that, this knock came a little bit too late with England having already been eliminated from the World Cup. However, what is still important is that England are still among the chasing contenders for the 2025 Champions Trophy, but it’s not going to be easy and they needed something special.

Dutt would go on to get punished for his costly drop. While bowling to Stokes in the 45^th over, the latter would go on to smash past cover in the second ball of the over, to collect a boundary, before hoicking over deep midwicket for a maximum off the very next ball.

The misery does not end there for Dutt. In what was supposed to be his final ball of the over, Dutt would go on to deliver a waist-high full toss, one that Stokes would loft over backward square leg. That was a no-ball, and in the free-hit, Stokes did Stokesy things, stepping out to launch it over long-on. From being at 50 runs off 58 deliveries, Stokes was on 80 from 69 balls.

Stokes would then go on to hit Bas de Leede for a six and a four in the 47^th, before getting to his century in the 48^th with a reverse sweep off a full length ball from Paul van Meekeren for a four.

Stokes would only take 20 deliveries to reach his century after crossing his 50-run mark, and while we may not see much more of Stokes in England colours in ODIs, on Wednesday, it was vintage Stokes on display, bringing some cheer to England fans during a tough time.

Moeen-Rashid does the rest

England’s spin partnership of Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid was at work on Wednesday in the middle overs. Both were impactful during the Netherlands’ run-chase, collecting three wickets each. Rashid, however, would be on the receiving end of things after being belted for sixes from Scott Edwards and Teja Nidamanuru. Just before the duo’s onslaught, Rashid would go on to get rid of de Leede, cleaning him up in the 26^th over.

Rashid then struck again in the 35^th over, seeing off van Beek who went for the sweep shot but ended up holing out to Malan at short fine leg.

In the 37^th over, Rashid would then go on to clean up Aryan Dutt.

Moeen, meanwhile, ended his long wait for his first wicket of the tournament by removing Edwards, who was caught at mid-off by Malan.

Moeen then teamed up with Rashid to dismiss Roelef van der Merwe after he tried a reverse sweep that ended up at the hands of Rashid at short third man.

Moeen then wrapped up the contest with a slow, wide length delivery to van Meekeren, who looked to slap through mid-off but missed, only for Jos Buttler to collect the ball and dismantle the bails.

While Stokes was the orchestrator of this win, Moeen and Rashid were game changers. Netherlands batters have showcased in the tournament that they cannot be written off, but this England spin duo proved a bit too strong for them eventually in the end.