Watch: Ben Stokes pulled Mitchell Starc with disdain, hitting him for a six to bring up his maiden World Cup 2023 fifty against Australia on November 4.
At the Narendra Modi Stadium, England allowed Australia to bat first and were restricted to 286 runs. A place in the semi-finals seemed like a distant dream for the defending champions, but England went into the match with a guaranteed place in the 2025 Champions Trophy.
England tried to shoot down the target but lost Jonny Bairstow on the first ball and were reduced to 19-2, making way for Stokes at the crease.
Stokes found it difficult to reproduce his usual free-spirited style and struggled to hit 46 off 70 deliveries at the end of 30 overs. But he didn’t give in and decided to keep his aggression in check for the time being by setting boundaries here and there from time to time.
He decided to play against Starc in the next over. On the penultimate ball, Stokes beat a short toss from a left-arm seamer and pulled it over deep square leg with elan. The next moment he raised his racquet to celebrate his 50th tournament.
When Stokes was dismissed for 64 (90), England were 168-5.
Watch Ben Stokes clobber Mitchell Starc for six
To bet on the World Cup with our Match Centre Partners bet365 head here.
