BEN STOKES SCORES CENTURY ON COUNTY RETURN AFTER TEST RETIREMENT

Ben Stokes scored an unbeaten 108 as Durham defeated Derbyshire by five wickets in the Metro Bank One Day Cup on Tuesday. The former England captain, playing his first competitive match since retiring from Test cricket three weeks earlier, battled repeated bouts of cramp to guide his side to their target of 257. Stokes struck 10 fours and three sixes across a 116-ball innings and shared significant partnerships with Will Rhodes (45), Colin Ackermann (28), Ollie Robinson (23) and captain Kasey Aldridge (23) to secure the win.

Stokes opened his bowling account with nine overs but took no wickets, finishing with figures of 0-38. Derbyshire's Martin Andersson scored 112 from 118 balls to form the backbone of the hosts' total of 256 for nine, with Brooke Guest contributing 48. Luke Robinson took three Derbyshire wickets during the chase. Stokes' return came on the same day The Hundred competition began, marking his first List A appearance for Durham in nearly 12 years.

The 35-year-old last played county cricket in the 50-over format during Durham's One Day Cup final win over Warwickshire in 2014. He has not appeared in any 50-over competition since England faced Pakistan at the 2023 World Cup in India. Stokes rejoined Durham last month following a period away from the England team during an investigation into a nightclub incident.