Stokes shows improved form in latest one-day outing

There was one ball where you could see a hint of the real Ben Stokes in action; the one that is a world-beating allrounder and that England would dearly love to have in their team for the Ashes across the Tasman.

It was the fourth ball of the 20th over at Eden Park Outer Oval yesterday, bowled by Auckland leg-spinner Tarun Nethula. It was over-pitched, well outside off stump, and Stokes needed no further invitation to smash it down the ground to long off, where it cannoned into a wall.

The 26-year-old left-hander had been at the crease for 10 overs at that stage, playing with intent while still looking rusty - as you would expect, given that this Ford Trophy one-day clash was just his second game of cricket in the past two months.

He quickly improved on his first outing in the red and black of Canterbury - the seven-ball two he managed in a loss to Otago on Sunday - with his innings of 34 in his team’s seven-wicket loss.

But there was also a bit of hesitation in his running and his strokeplay, and a sense that he was trying to force things, rather than just doing them naturally, as he so often has for his country.

The real star was Auckland opener Colin Munro who blazed his way to an unbeaten 174 off 118 balls - his highest one-day score. Stokes was tidy with the ball to begin with, opening the bowling, but was hit by Munro for three fours through the leg side off the final three balls of his fifth over, and the pair exchanged a few words afterwards.

He returned later for a two-over stint and finished with figures of 0-39 from seven overs.

It was a day for the big-hitting lefthanders in the Ford Trophy, as Jesse Ryder and Colin Munro both scored centuries.

OTAGO v WELLINGTON

Shawn Hicks guided Otago to victory over Wellington in Dunedin, scoring a patient, unbeaten 83 as they chased down Wellington’s 253 all out.

The South African-born batsman faced 116 balls batting three to see Otago home in the 47th over, securing a six-wicket win.

Rob Nicol and Hamish Rutherford gave the hosts a fast start in their chase, but both fell in the opening 10 overs as Otago were racing along at six an over.

Hicks and Neil Broom then consolidated the teams position with patient knocks, combining for a 95-run partnership through the middle overs.

Broom fell for 48, bringing an aggressive Anaru Kitchen to the crease to power Otago into winning position.

Kitchen scored 50 from just 34 balls while Hicks continued to be a rock. Otago got home with 23 balls to spare.

Wellington had a patient 74 from 100 balls from Devon Conway to thank for their score, but with players falling around him they could not push on to a competitive total.

CENTRAL v NORTHERN

Jesse Ryder blasted 10 fours and three sixes on his way to 107 from 106 balls as Central had a big win over Northern in Whangarei.

Ryder joined George Worker at the crease in the sixth over of the innings and the pair combined for a 205-run partnership to put CD in control.

Worker fell just shy of his century in the 40th over, scoring 96 from 115 balls, with Ryder gone the following over for 107.

Tom Bruce (27) and Doug Bracewell (43) then provided a boost in the final 10 overs to get Central to an imposing 334-8 after 50 overs.

Northern Districts were never in the hunt.

Two wickets in the first four overs, both of them to Adam Milne, had the hosts in deep trouble, leaving BJ Watling and Anton Devcich to try to rebuild.

But when they both fell in their 20s, ND fell to 74-5 and their hopes of pushing for a victory were gone.

AUCKLAND v CANTERBURY

The Ben Stokes show rolled into Auckland, but Colin Munro leapt on stage and took over proceedings with a stunning 174 not out.

Set 277 to win by Canterbury at the Eden Park Outer Oval, Munro opened the innings and went after everything, bashing 22 fours and six sixes along the way.

Munro and Michael Guptill-Bunce put on 106 for the opening partnership before Guptill-Bunce fell for 30, and although Auckland had a mini collapse with three wickets falling for just 36 runs, they powered on home.

Mark Chapman came to the wicket and scored 55 from 59 balls to help Munro guide the chase home.

Earlier, Stokes went better with the bat than in his Ford Trophy debut, scoring 34 from 41 balls, but Todd Astle was the only batsman to edge past 50, scoring 53 from 49.