Ben Stokes was bowled for 95 from 119 balls for Durham against Northamptonshire at Chester-le-Street on Saturday, missing out on a century after a boundary-heavy County Championship counterattack.
The England captain had reached tea unbeaten on 95 after dragging Durham from early trouble to 183-3 in reply to Northamptonshire’s 450. He struck 18 fours before being bowled by the same fielder who had dropped him on 43, according to live updates from Chester-le-Street.
The innings carried wider significance because England selector Marcus North was at the ground during Stokes’ burst. With England also in Test action against New Zealand at The Oval, every sign of Stokes’ red-ball rhythm and durability matters. It was not a perfect ending, but it was a pointed reminder of his match-changing ceiling.
Stokes gives England a timely reminder
Durham had lost early wickets after lunch, but Stokes altered the tone by attacking rather than merely repairing. His half-century came from 51 balls and included 10 fours, before he continued to dominate the session alongside Will Rhodes.
The near miss will sting, but the substance of the innings is still valuable for England. Stokes batted with authority, handled the match situation, and again showed why his availability changes the balance of any red-ball side.
The latest updates came via The Guardian’s county cricket live blog.
