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In a thrilling encounter that reignited the Ashes rivalry, Australia spinner Nathan Lyon showcased his prowess by dismissing England captain Ben Stokes in the ongoing County Championship Division One. Lyon, representing Lancashire, claimed Stokes’ wicket on the second day of the fixture against Durham.
Ben Stokes’ struggle against Lancashire bowlers
In the first innings, Stokes found it challenging to anchor his innings as Lancashire’s bowlers maintained a disciplined line and length. After facing 16 deliveries and scoring just two runs, Stokes was tempted into an outside edge by Lyon, bringing his stay at the crease to an abrupt end. This marked the 10th instance of Lyon dismissing Stokes in red-ball cricket, a testament to their enduring on-field rivalry.
Nathan Lyon dismisses Stokes
Lyon’s delivery, which showcased his signature spin and control, disrupted Stokes’ usually impeccable footwork. The resulting edge was deftly caught by Tom Bruce at the second slip, concluding the brief but intense eight-ball duel between the two cricketing stalwarts. The moment was captured on video and quickly went viral among cricket fans.
Here is the video:
A battle between Nathan Lyon and Ben Stokes was won by the Australian on this occasion.
It took Lyon just eight deliveries to dismiss Stokes in a thrilling mini contest. pic.twitter.com/yb71knEA1G
— Vitality County Championship (@CountyChamp) May 18, 2024
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Lancashire’s bowling prowess
Lyon’s spell was a highlight of the match, with figures of 4/59. However, it was Tom Aspinwall who stole the spotlight, claiming his maiden five-wicket haul with 5/41, which played a crucial role in restricting Durham to 236 runs. Durham’s innings was anchored by David Bedingham, who scored a resilient 101.
A commanding lead
In response to Durham’s first innings, Lancashire posted an impressive 357, followed by a declaration at 359/9 in their second innings. Keaton Jennings shone with a spectacular century, scoring 155 runs. Despite his struggles with the bat, Stokes made a significant impact with the ball, taking a five-wicket haul for 98 runs in 20 overs.
At the close of Day 3, Durham found themselves at 134/3, needing 341 runs to secure a win. Contributions from Alex Lees (40) and captain Scott Borthwick (39) provided a solid foundation, but both players were unable to convert their starts into substantial scores.
