Ben Stokes scored an unbeaten century in his first game since retiring from England duty as he helped Durham to a five-wicket victory over Derbyshire in the Metro Bank One Day Cup.
The former England captain has been the matchwinner so many times for his country and it did not take him long to transfer that reputation back to his county as he guided them home with 108 not out, his first list A century for Durham in 12 years.
The 35-year-old made his return to county cricket, for the first time since his international retirement in June, on the same day The Hundred also got under way.
Stokes last featured for Durham in the format in their One Day Cup final win over Warwickshire in 2014 and has not played in any 50-over format since England played Pakistan at the 2023 World Cup in India.
He previously admitted being back at his boyhood club last month, having been stood down by England during an investigation into a nightclub incident, rekindled his “affection towards cricket” and despite not getting any rewards with the ball in hand on Tuesday, he showed his quality with the bat.
Martin Andersson’s well-worked ton helped the hosts to 256 for nine but Stokes’ century helped Durham kick off their 50-over campaign in style.
Stokes struggled with cramp for much of his innings but the ‘wounded soldier’ look was a familiar sight for those who have watched him over the years, and it did not stop him knocking 10 fours and three sixes on his way to a 116-ball century.
Stokes started his first spell of bowling in the ninth over but Brooke Guest and Andersson ploughed on and produced a 112-run partnership for the second wicket before the former was dismissed on 48.
All eyes were on Stokes but Luke Robinson played the starring role with the ball, dismissing Harry Came, Wayne Madsen and Anuj Dal as the hosts fell from 181 for two to 226 for eight.
However, Andersson quietly chipped away for 112 from 118 balls to help the Falcons put a competitive total on the board. Stokes conceded only 38 runs from his nine overs.
Ben Aitchison dismissed Durham openers Graham Clark and Alex Lees inside the powerplay which brought Stokes to the crease with the score on 24 for two.
He could have been dismissed second ball when Aitchison’s delivery hit him on the thigh pad, with Derbyshire’s appeals ignored by the umpire.
It took 28 deliveries for Stokes to hit his first boundary and then two came along at once, and his first six down the ground in the 33rd over took him closer to a half-century.
Stokes edged Nick Potts for four to reach 50 but immediately fell and clutched his hamstring with what looked to be cramp before he raised his bat in the air while sitting on the ground.
Durham were edging closer but England’s Shoaib Bashir dismissed Ollie Robinson to potentially put the cat among the pigeons.
Stokes was struggling to run so he decided to stand and deliver with a flurry of boundaries, but he brought his century up with a simple single to deep midwicket before taking his side home alongside Kasey Aldridge with five balls to spare.
Durham wicketkeeper Robinson said of Stokes’ achievement: “We’re all so proud of him.
“It’s a massive boost. A man who can do what he did today back in the ranks is unbelievable. That’ll get views around the world, so good for this competition.
“He just provides us with this calmness and has this aura about him like he has done all these wonderful things, it’s amazing.”
