THE OVAL, LONDON, 30 MAY 2019
The World Cup was back in England after 20 years, and the hosts squared up to South Africa in the opening game. It was a rejuvenated English side and one of the favourites; they showed exactly why in this match. The Proteas won the toss and chose to field. Leg-spinner Imran Tahir opened the bowling and there was a sensational start to the tournament. Jonny Bairstow was dismissed off the first ball that he faced in the World Cup, caught behind by Quinton de Kock. It was the second delivery of this edition of the premier event. Jason Roy and Joe Root put the innings on track with a century stand, both scoring fifties, but getting out within four runs of each other. Ben Stokes joined skipper Eoin Morgan at 111 for three after 19.1 overs.
They were initially content to rotate the strike until Morgan had enough. He stepped out and slammed Lungi Ngidi over long-off for a six, then rocketed him over fine-leg for another. The half-century partnership came in 9.1 overs. Stokes drove Tahir off the back foot to extra-cover for his first four, already having faced 26 deliveries. He crashed Aiden Markram to the long-off fence, and Morgan swept into the stands in the same over. Morgan pulled Andile Phehlukwayo to the boundary, bringing up a-run-a-ball fifty.
It was time for Stokes to step on the pedal. A hard swing at Phehlukwayo saw the ball speeding to the pickets third-man, then three stinging boundaries off Dwaine Pretorious to raise his half-century in 45 balls, as well as the hundred of the stand in 16.4 overs. Tahir came back to have Morgan superbly caught at long-on by Markram for 57. He had faced 60 balls and struck 3 sixes and 4 fours. The partnership yielded 106 runs in 17.4 overs. Stokes carried on his merry way as wickets fell around him. Finally, once the 300 had been posted on the board in the 49th over, he reversed his bat and banged the ball straight into the hands of Hashim Amla at point. His 89 spanned 79 deliveries, having peppered the boundary nine times. England finished on 311 for eight, a tall task for the Proteas.
De Kock and Rassie van der Dussen put together a fine partnership of 85 for the third wicket 13.3 overs. De Kock was dismissed for 68, then Stokes came into the picture again. He caught Jean-Paul Duminy at long-off from the bowling of Moeen Ali. Three balls later, prowling in the covers, Stokes sent in a smart throw which resulted in the run out of Pretorius. Van der Dussen fell for 50. Phehlukwayo swung Adil Rashid hard and high over mid-wicket. Stokes, on the boundary, leapt with perfect timing, stuck out his right hand and took a stunning catch. You couldn’t keep Stokes out of the frame on this day. Sri Lanka were in strife, wickets fell and the required-rate climbed to 10 an over.
Stokes was in his first spell. Into his third over, he dug one in short to Kagiso Rabada who banged it into the hands of Liam Plunkett at mid-wicket. He pitched up the next ball, which Tahir edged for Joe Root stretching out at slip to hold on. South Africa were bowled out for 207 in 39.5 overs. Stokes grabbed two for 12 in 2.5 overs. Jofra Archer bagged three for 27 in 7 overs, ripping out the middle. It was a stunning allround show by Stokes to set off the English campaign on a great note on his World Cup debut.
Eoin Morgan paid him a compliment, “Extremely impressed, he’s had a day out today, with a match-winner like that in your side.” Stokes’ heroics put the South Africans completely in the shade, giving a flying start to the 12th edition of the ICC World Cup. It is performances like these that remain etched in memory for years to come.
Indra Vikram Singh's space 