Image Credit- Getty
With a victory over the Netherlands, Ben Stokes’ first
World Cup century saved England’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions Trophy
from another embarrassing performance.
With one game remaining, his 129-run partnership for
the seventh wicket with Chris Woakes helped England overcome 192 for 6 to 339
for 9, after they had lost five wickets for 59 runs in the span of 15 overs.
This was the 2019 champions’ only victory of the tournament.
England fans are used to seeing Stokes lead his team
to decisive victories, but his impact could only go so far because he was
injured when he arrived in India and could only play in their fourth game. His
century against the Netherlands, which came too late to save England’s hopes of
making it to the semi-finals and ruin their pride despite helping them qualify
for the 2025 Champions Trophy, came after innings of 5, 43, 0 and 64. With the
top eight teams advancing, England’s victory by 160 runs in 12.4 overs lifted
them off the bottom of the table. Their net run rate improved from a pitiful
-1.504 to -0.885, moving them up to seventh position ahead of Bangladesh.
After losing their final five wickets for 16 in 21
balls, Netherlands’ chances of earning a crucial Champions Trophy participation
were severely damaged. The bottom four countries, England, Bangladesh, Sri
Lanka, and the Netherlands, are all tied for fourth place with four points
apiece, so theoretically they can still make it. However, their final game
against the unbeaten hosts, India, presents their greatest challenge, as they
have a lower net run rate than their opponents.