Ben Stokes starred in all three departments as England began their quest to win the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 with a 104-run thrashing of South Africa in the tournament opener 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’s sums up our day. England outplayed us the second half.
— Albie Morkel (@albiemorkel) May 30, 2019
Bloody love watching this England One day team play ….. !!
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) May 30, 2019
Wow… what about that Ben Stokes … what a catch !!! You can’t practise those #CWC19 #ENGvsRSA One of the best you will ever see
— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69) May 30, 2019
SA's batting was vulnerable, but this effort has been particularly disappointing: neither head nor heart
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) May 30, 2019
BEN STOKES. pic.twitter.com/sfgkhgcFID
— Ben Duckett (@BenDuckett1) May 30, 2019
https://twitter.com/hershybru/status/1134129984233246721
Clinical. This is not just a win…but a statement of sorts. England start their #CWC19 campaign in style. Such a huge (104-run) win might play an important role towards the end…NRR. #EngvSA
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) May 30, 2019
Wow @benstokes38 #ENGvSA #CWC19 what a grab. Can't emphasize to you all how difficult a skill that is. Back pedal reverse cup.
— Tim Bresnan (@timbresnan) May 30, 2019
https://twitter.com/stehoare/status/1134130947530645510
What a bloody catch that @benstokes38 😳😳😳 #CWC19
— Veda Krishnamurthy (@vedakmurthy08) May 30, 2019
WOW!!!! @benstokes38 has just taken the most ridiculously audacious catch in the @ODIWCup_2019 it’s the best catch I’ve ever seen in the flesh, find a screen quickly and see what I mean 😲😲😲
— Graeme Swann (@Swannyg66) May 30, 2019
Big win that by @ECB_cricket team. They showed why they are one of the fav to lift the #worldcup2019 #BenStokes the best all rounder in one day cricket right now ????
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) May 30, 2019
Super performer of the game @benstokes38. Congratulations, on the big win today, thankfully they roped in @JofraArcher in the final squad because the young man showed what he possesses,
superb start for the hosts!#ENGvSA #CWC19— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) May 30, 2019
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 desired..!!
— Bishan Bedi (@BishanBedi) May 30, 2019
Ben Stokes with the bat, Ben Stokes with the ball, Ben Stokes on the field!
No question about who's the Player of the Match in the #CWC19 opener 👏 #ENGvSA #WeAreEngland pic.twitter.com/2pZwa10xEt
— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) May 30, 2019
