London: England captain Alastair Cook hailed the impact of Ben Stokes as his side completed a stunning 124-run win against New Zealand in the first Test at Lord’s on Monday. The hosts had been 134 runs behind on first innings yet, with Cook making 162 and Stokes powering his way to an 85-ball century, the fastest-ever Test hundred at Lord’s, they set New Zealand 345 to win on Monday’s.
It proved too much for the Black Caps, who collapsed to nought for two and 12 for three. Then Stokes born in Christchurch, New Zealand, but brought up in Cumbria, northern England struck twice in two balls to reduce the tourists to 61 for five as the lively seamer captured the key wickets of first-innings century-maker Kane Williamson and Black Caps skipper Brendon McCullum. BJ Watling (59) and Corey Anderson (75) checked England’s progress, but when they fell in quick succession the writing was on the wall for New Zealand.
“Ben Stokes played an innings of the like I’ve never seen before,” said Cook. “We had a hundred lead when he came in, and when he was out two hours later it was about 270 and I’d scored 10 of them!”Stokes also made 92 in England’s first innings, having come in when his side were in desperate trouble at 30 for four, and Cook added: “We’ve just got to keep backing him and he’ll be a tremendous cricketer.”
Stokes starred with the ball too by taking the key wickets of Kane Williamson and Black Caps skipper Brendon McCullum in successive balls on Monday during a return of three for 38.“I’ve never heard Lord’s sounding like that, as it did when Ben got those two wickets,” said Cook. But Cook said the 23-year-old Durham allrounder’s first-innings 92, made after England had collapsed to 30 for four, and Joe Root’s scores of 98 and 84 had also played their part in keeping England in the game, along with his own nine-hour century.
“When the team is 130 behind you need someone to go and get a really big score luckily it was me in this game,” said the left-handed opener.“It’s been a rocky few weeks so to play with such freedom and passion, the lads are pleased with that,” Cook added. Durham all-rounder Stokes added: “It was a lovely moment when I got two wickets in two balls today and the crowd were magnificent.”
