Cricket News

Ben Stokes rates the Nottingham test victory the best ever in his career

The New Zealand vs England second test match headed into its fifth and final day on Tuesday. New Zealand batsmen built on their lead on the fifth day and got bowled out 298 runs ahead of England. With just a bit over 72 overs left in the day, it was expected that England might play safe and bat out for a draw as they were already leading the series by 1-0. But much to everyone’s surprise England decided to have a go at the target.

England pulled off two fourth innings run chases in two weeks and the scintillating victory at Nottingham garnered praises from across the globe. The victory has also got a really special place in the heart of the newly appointed England Captain Ben Stokes who rates it as the biggest victory in his cricketing career overshadowing the ‘Headingley Miracle’ in Ashes 2019 and the epic World Cup final knock.

“That blows away Headingley, it blows away Lord’s and the World Cup final,” said Stokes after the game. “I just can’t quite wrap my head around how we’ve chased 299 with 20 overs left on day five of the Test match when we had to bowl 15 overs this morning. That’s never gonna happen again. But if it does, it is probably us who are going to do it,” he added.

Earlier in the innings, opener Alex Lees lead the chase at the beginning of the innings with a score of 44. But despite a positive start England lost wickets in quick succession and were reeling at 93/4 before Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes arrived at the crease. What followed after was pure carnage as Bairstow smashed the kiwi bowlers all around the park in his blistering knock of 136 off just 92 deliveries. Stokes played second fiddle to Bairstow and rotated the strike and became the aggressor when Bairstow got out. Thanks to this match-changing partnership, England finished the chase inside 50 overs.