Luckless Stokes run out for duck

Ben Stokes can’t take a trick since joining Canterbury.

The suspended English allrounder paid the price for indecisive running between the wickets, being run out for a oneball duck against Northern Districts at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval on Sunday.

Opener Michael Pollard lofted the ball to mid on, but Stokes was guilty of ball watching. He was left well short of his crease with ND’S Brett Randell producing a smart direct hit to secure his prized wicket.

Stokes’ duck capped off a tough day having gone 1-56 from 10 overs with the ball in the Ford Trophy third round match.

Winless Canterbury were in strife at 58-4 after 12 overs, chasing ND’S formidable 274.

It was Stokes’ first wicket in 24 overs for the red-and-blacks since making his much-hyped return to cricket against Otago last Sunday.

Stokes ended his wicketless run with the first ball of his ninth over. He pulled off a running caught and bowled effort to remove ND’S top scorer Anton Devcich (59), who tipped one up trying to accelerate the scoring in the 44th over.

After being carted for 24 runs in his first three overs, Stokes pulled it back well, conceding 20 from his next six. He was dealt to in his final over, going for 12 with big-hitting Brett Hampton whacking him for two fours.