Stokes Steals The Limelight With Century As Cook Piles On The Runs

Ben Stokes hit a majestic 101 off just 92 balls to lead an England fight back in the 1st Test against New Zealand, with Alistair Cook still unbeaten on 153 with an intriguing final day in the works at Lord’s.

Stokes’s innings stole the show despite captain Alistair Cook looking back to his brilliant best with a composed 153 not out and goes into Day 5 hoping to add to England’s lead of 295 and a possible declaration after lunch to set New Zealand a target they may feel is worth an attempt.

After losing Ian Bell to the third ball of the day, with the under pressure Englishman chasing a wide Tim Southee delivery to nick behind, it brought the in-form Joe Root to the crease who along with Cook held a 158 ball partnership that gave England a lead. The impressive youngster fell sixteen short of his century pulling a ball to deep square-leg where Trent Boult took the catch off the bowling of Matt Henry.

Stokes came to the crease and continued his impressive showing from the first innings, taking the game to the New Zealander’s who to their credit continued to plug away all day. In a partnership of 132, Stokes scored 101 of those runs including taking 18 runs off one Southee over.

Cook was the senior man in the partnership and after clipping Henry for three to bring up his 27th test match century, the skipper who has come in for some fierce criticism in recent weeks, was happy to sit back and watch the Stokes heroics at the other end.

The attacking impetus has been there for all to see in this test match and is a refreshing shift in direction since Peter Moore’s departure as coach with both Root and Stokes seemingly at the heart of this new brand England style. Stokes would eventually fall to Mark Craig, edging to the safe hands of Ross Taylor at slip but the innings had changed the game situation and the Lords crowd rose to applaud the Durham all-rounder off the pitch.

Buttler was knew to the crease but would score only 14 feathering through a nick to Tom Latham behind the stumps off the bowling of Henry but Moeen Ali and Cook saw the game through to stumps on day 4 with the England captain reaching his 150 shortly before whilst Ali was unbeaten on 19 and looking to continue the momentum England had gained on an excellent day for the paying public.