Australia’s domination in the ongoing Ashes 2023 series continued as they secured a 43-run victory over England in the second Test at Lord’s. The match witnessed a remarkable innings from England skipper Ben Stokes, who scored a record-breaking 155 runs in the fourth innings. 

Stokes’ heroic knock became the highest individual score by an England captain in the fourth innings of a Test match, leaving social media and cricket enthusiasts abuzz with admiration.

Stokes’ impressive performance drew praise from former Indian captain Virat Kohli, who took to Twitter to commend the England all-rounder. Kohli, who had previously called Stokes the most competitive player he had ever faced, reiterated his respect for Stokes in a tweet. Kohli acknowledged Stokes’ outstanding innings but also acknowledged Australia’s dominance in the series.

“I wasn’t joking about calling Ben Stokes the most competitive bloke I’ve played against. Innings of the highest quality but Australia is too good at the moment,” King Kohli said in a tweet, which has now been viewed by three million users on Twitter.

On the final day, Stokes initially adopted a cautious approach, partnering with Ben Duckett to build a resilient stand. However, following Jonny Bairstow’s dismissal, Stokes unleashed a flurry of boundaries, scoring an impressive 50 runs in the final five overs before lunch. His attacking display included three consecutive sixes off Cameron Green.

Stokes continued his aggressive approach in the second session, reducing the gap to below 100 runs with support from Stuart Broad. Unfortunately for England, Stokes’ dismissal triggered a collapse in the batting lineup, leading to a quick end to the match. Australia’s Josh Hazlewood and wicketkeeper Alex Carey played a crucial role in securing the win.

With this victory, Australia now holds a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. The Australian team showcased their prowess by taking four quick wickets on the fourth day, positioning themselves as the clear favourites to claim another win. Despite Stokes’ valiant efforts, the rest of the English lineup crumbled under pressure, unable to sustain the momentum.

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Updated: 03 Jul 2023, 09:18 AM IST



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