PUNE: Finally, some relief for England. The Jos Buttler-led side broke a streak of five consecutive losses, their most in a World Cup, beating the Netherlands by 160 runs in their World Cup match at the MCA Stadium in Gahunje on Wednesday. This was England’s only second win in the tournament after they beat Bangladesh by 137 runs in their second league match last month.
Dropped at 41, Ben Stokes scored his first ton of the tournament to save England from what looked like another batting collapse. With a seventh-wicket stand of 129 runs, Stokes’ 108 (84 balls (6x4s, 6x6s) with Chris Woakes’ 51 took England to a huge 339-9 in 50 overs. Opener Dawid Malan earlier had stabilized England’s batting with 87 off 74 balls.