Historic feat: Only batter to score 150+ in 4th innings while batting at or below 6
Scoring a big hundred while batting lower down the order is one of the tough asks for any player irrespective of the format. A batter coming in at no. six or below does not have the luxury of time and support as the team must have already lost plenty of wickets for their arrival on the crease. The job of a lower-order batter becomes even more difficult while batting in the fourth and final innings in Test matches with deteriorating conditions and match situations playing on the minds of both opponents. But England skipper Ben Stokes put all these things to bed when he slammed a memorable century recently.
In the recently concluded second Test of the ongoing 2023 Ashes series, Stokes became the first-ever batter to smash 150-plus runs while batting at no. six or below in the fourth innings of a match. He almost single-handedly turned the game on its head against arch-rivals Australia at Lord’s.
Story of the Test
Stokes won the toss on the first morning and elected to field first in overcast conditions. Steven Smith struck a brilliant century (110) while David Warner and Travis Head hit their respective half-centuries as the visitors posted a big total of 416 on the board in their first innings. In reply, Ben Duckett and Harry Brook scored 98 and 50 respectively as the home side reached a total of 325.
Opener Usman Khawaja continued his good form on the tour as he racked up 77 while the rest of the batting line-up also delivered useful cameos. The Aussies got bundled out for 279 in their second innings, setting a target of 371 for the hosts.
Stokes came in to bat at no. six when his side was struggling miserably at 45/4. The scenes of Headingley 2019 got freshened up as he looked in terrific touch yet again. The left-handed batter counter-attacked the Aussie bowling line-up, especially after a controversial dismissal of Jonny Bairstow.
Stokes looked like he would repeat 2019 as he started smashing the Aussie bowlers all around the park. He brought up his 13th Test century as the visitors began to panic. But his scintillating century came to an end when pacer Josh Hazlewood got the better of him. The England skipper smashed 155 off just 214 with the help of nine fours and as many maximums but the home side got bundled out for 327, falling 43 short of the target.
