Ben Stokes starred in all three departments as England began their quest to win the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 with a 104-run ꧙thrashing of South Africa in the tournament opener𒅌 at The Oval on Thursday.
The 27-year-old all-rounder top-scored with 89 in England’s 311 for eight, took a stunning catch near the boundary and picked two wickets for 12, as the hosts won with 61 balls left.
Brief scores:
England – 311/8 in 50 overs (Ben Stokes 89, Lungi Ngidi 3-66) beat South Africa 207 in 39.5 overs (Quinton de Kock 68, Jofra Archer 3-27) by 104 runs.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
That’s꧒ sums up our day. England outplayed us the seco🐎nd half.
— Albie Morkel (@albiemorkel)
Bloody love watching this England One day team play ….. !!
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan)
Wow… what about that Ben Stokes … what a catch !!! You can’t practise those One of the best you will ever see
— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69)
SA's batting was vulnerable, but this effort has been particularly disappointing: neither head nor heart
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah)
BEN STOKES.
— Ben Duckett (@BenDuckett1)
//twitter.com/hershybru/statu✨s/1134129984233246721
Clinical. This is not just a win…but a statement of sorts. England start their campaign in style. Such a huge (104-run) win might play an important role towards the end…NRR.
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash)
Wow what a grab. Can't emphasize to you all how difficult a skill that is. Back pedal reverse cup.
— Tim Bresnan (@timbresnan)
//twitter.com/stehoare/status/1134130947530645510
What a bloody catch that 😳😳😳
— Veda Krishnamurthy (@vedakmurthy08)
WOW!!!! has just taken the most ridiculously audacious catch in the it’s the best catch I’ve ever seen in the flesh, find a screen quickly and see what I꧂ mean 😲😲😲
— Graeme Swann (@Swannyg66)
Big win that by team. They showed why they are one of the fav to lift t🐼he the best all rounder in o🦩ne day cricket right now ????
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan)
Super performer of the game . Congratulations, on the big win today, thankfully they roped in in the final squad because the young man showed what he possesses,
superb start for the hosts!— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh)
England re-emphasise their ODI quality w/superb percentage allround Crkt..in ♋any case well begun is half done..!! One catch by Stokes was literally picking frm thin air..Well Done England & no sympathies fr Proteas who left Lots to be desire🐼d..!!
— Bishan Bedi (@BishanBedi)
Ben Stokes with the bat, Ben Stokes with the ball, Ben S𒉰tokes on the field!
No question about who's the Player of the Match in the opener 👏
— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup)
