Lucky Stokes has degree of success

BEN STOKES hit a quick half-century in his first match since landing a £1.7million Indian Premier League deal.

The Durham all-rounder became the highest-paid overseas player in IPL history when he was recruited by Rising Pune Super Giants.

Stokes did not look like a millionaire in England’s opening tour match against the University of West Indies Vice Chancellor’s XI when he was dropped on 18, 26 and 58.

However, his 61 from 53 balls, which included five sixes and one four, illustrated his capabilities with the bat as he helped England to 379 for eight.

There are just eight matches for Eoin Morgan’s team before the Champions Trophy in June — the three-match series against West Indies that starts in Antigua on Friday, two matches at home against Ireland in May and then three against South Africa.

There will not be easier opportunities before then to score runs than against opposition that included six students. So it was no surprise that Jason Roy, Joe Root, and Morgan also hit half-centuries.

Roy got the innings off to an explosive start with 79 from 43 balls, before Root, whose 71 came from 76 deliveries, helped England to 240 for three before he was caught at midwicket off Jermaine Levy.

Root shared a 126-run stand with Morgan, who fell at 95, lbw two overs after Root’s exit.

Steve Finn took two wickets in three balls to reduce the Vice Chancellor’s XI to 10 for two in the second over but Chadwick Walton helped them to 129 for 3 after 20 overs.