Watch: Ben Stokes smashed 24 runs off one over against off-spinner Aryan Dutt, on his way to a century, during the England-Netherlands World Cup 2023 match in Gahunje, Pune.

England were in a spot of bother after electing to bat first against the Dutch as they cascaded from 133-1 to 192-6, hinting at another lacklustre batting performance. Already out of the semi-finals race, the title-holders entered into this match with a Champions Trophy 2025 berth on the line.

In a period of consolidation, their last recognised batting pair  – Stokes (108) and Chris Woakes (51) – stitched a 129-run stand. By the time the partnership ended with Woakes getting caught behind in the 49th over, England were already out of danger, finishing on a solid 339-9.

Stokes, who bettered his previous highest World Cup score of 84 against New Zealand in the 2019 final, was at his fluent best, perhaps for the first time in this edition.

Facing Dutt in the second ball of the 45th over, he rocked back and slammed a glorious four through the covers. Stokes dispatched the third ball for a six-over deep mid-wicket despite not middling the ball. In an anticlimax, he played two successive dots on the fourth and the fifth ball. The last ball yielded 13 runs as Dutt conceded six off a waist-height full-toss called a no-ball, followed by another maximum off a free-hit.

Watch Ben Stokes take Aryan Dutt to the cleaners

 

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