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 one-ball duck against Northern Districts at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval yesterday.
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 muchhyped 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.
ND got through to a challenging 274 with top order batsmen Devcich, Nick Kelly (44), Daryl Mitchell (44) all getting starts in a strong team batting performance.
Black Caps seamer Matt Henry, who wasn’t required for the second test against the West Indies in Hamilton with Tim Southee returning, was superb for Canterbury, who are searching for their first Ford Trophy win, nabbing 3-35.
Legspinner Todd Astle frustrated ND after they had made a decent start, taking three wickets within the space of six balls, to put Canterbury on top after the first 20 overs. Astle captured 3-48, including the wickets of opener BJ Watling, who made 32, Tim Seifert and Kelly.
Bowling first change, Stokes battled for his rhythm early, conceding 24 runs from his first three overs.
Kelly punished anything short and wide, hitting Stokes for four boundaries in his opening spell, including back-to-back fours in his second over.
Stokes returned for a four over spell, starting in the 25th over and was much tidier with Mitchell and Devcich forced to work the ball around for singles as they consolidated.
He allowed just 14 runs in the spell, producing 10 dot balls.
His final three overs went for 18 runs, 12 of which came off the last.
For the latest from the Ford Trophy matches go to stuff.co.nz