Stokes Stars As England Beat Netherlands By 160 Runs

Ben Stokes' maiden World Cup hundred set-up a 160-run win for England over the Netherlands in Pune on Wednesday as the struggling champions climbed off the bottom of the table.

England vs Netherlands, Cricket World Cup 2023 (Image Source: Google)

A target of 340 always looked like it might be beyond non-Test side the Netherlands, who had twice defeated England at the T20 World Cup but lost all six of the teams' previous ODI meetings.

"We've been in good in patches, similar today, we just need to do it for longer," said Dutch skipper Scott Edwards whose team stunned South Africa earlier in the tournament.

- England 'quality side' -

"England are a quality side and they took it away from us."

England came into this match rock bottom of the table but opener Dawid Malan led the way with a 36-ball fifty that featured 40 runs in boundaries after skipper Jos Buttler won the toss.

England, however, lost two wickets in quick succession.

Joe Root fell for 28 in bizarre fashion when bowled between his legs by Logan van Beek attempting a reverse scoop.

And 133-2 became 139-3 when Malan was run out in sight of his second hundred of the tournament when sent back by Stokes going for a needless single.

Harry Brook gave his wicket away before Buttler and Moeen both fell tamely in single figures.

Stokes, dropped in the deep on 41 off a tough chance, survived a tight lbw review before smashing a no-ball from spinner Aryan Dutt -- and the ensuing free-hit -- for sixes.

He went into the 90s with another six, a straight drive off Bas de Leede.

A reverse swept four off paceman Paul van Meekeren, his sixth of the innings, saw Stokes to a 78-ball hundred that included five sixes on a ground where he had played for Pune in the Indian Premier League.

Woakes and Stokes shared a seventh-wicket stand of 129.

Van Beek -- who bowled 10 wides -- suffering in a return of 2-88.

The Netherlands slumped to 13-2 in reply, Max O'Dowd chipping Woakes to mid-on before Colin Ackermann was caught behind for a duck off Willey

Several batsmen made it into the 30s, while Teja Nidamanuru was left stranded on 41 not out when last man van Meekeren was stumped off Moeen.