Stokes fires in the rain

Monster batsman. Fine bowler. Excellent fielder. Ben Stokes is that rare three-in-one player that every captain craves for and the opposition envies. He had tuned up for the Champions Trophy with a 77-ball hundred in the second ODI against South Africa in Southampton, but all eyes were on his sore knee. He was then rested for the third ODI in which England's much vaunted batting line-up was razed by Kagiso Rabada and Wayne Parnell.

He was passed fit for the Champions Trophy, but was not needed to bat in the opener against Bangladesh. Against New Zealand, he only flickered briefly, making 48 off 53 balls. Then against Australia, in what was perhaps a precursor to the Ashes to be played down under later this year, he erupted. Short balls were disdainfully swatted over midwicket and the fuller ones were powerfully driven in the arc between point and mid-off.

It often seems like Stokes scores runs for fun. But that wasn't the case today. The new ball was wobbling, as was England's top order. Jason Roy was pinned leg-before by an inswinger from Mitchell Starc. At the other end, Josh Hazlewood found just enough seam movement to defeat Alex Hales and Joe Root. Stokes walked in at 35 for 3 and was smacked on the pad first ball, but it had pitched outside the leg stump. The next ball curled in, grazed the inside edge, and rolled to the leg side.

He played cautiously against Starc and Hazlewood before taking advantage of Pat Cummins' extra pace. In all, Stokes took the quick for 43 off 28 balls, including eight fours, and turned the tables on Australia. After the sun peeked into Birmingham, Stokes made hay. He overtook Eoin Morgan and raised a fifty off 39 balls. He pressed onto bring up his third ODI hundred, which ensured England were 40 runs ahead of the par score when rain intervened. A red-hot Stokes and the damp English weather eventually dumped Australia out of the Champions Trophy.

The rasping hook that brought up his fifty. Starc banged in a rapid shoulder-high short ball on off, and Stokes swivelled quickly on the back foot, flogging the ball to the left of deep square leg. Talk about fighting fire with fire. The six, perhaps, signalled the beginning of the end for Steven Smith's men.

Stats that matter

• Stokes' unbeaten 102 off 109 balls is his highest ODI score, and second hundred in three innings
• The 159-run partnership between Stokes and Morgan is the fourth 150-plus stand for England in the Champions Trophy, and the second in this edition.

"We just spoke about what the conditions were and we just wanted to take it by the ball. Hopefully I can keep it going forward."
Ben Stokes on how England revived their chase