ENG vs WI, 2nd Test: Ben Stokes Breaks English Record In Test Cricket With 36-ball 50 In Manchester Test

Ben Stokes stroked his way to an unbeaten on 78 off just 57 balls after resuming on his overnight score of 16. He tonked the Windies bowling attack by smashing 3 sixes and 4 boundaries in an entertaining and important knock on Monday morning.

Ben Stokes (Image: AFP)

Ben Stokes is on a milestone achieving spree off late in red ball cricket and the English all-rounder added another record to his name in England's emphatic 113-run win over the West Indies at Old Trafford in Manchester. Opening the innings for the hosts in their second essay on the fifth and final day at Manchester, the free flowing stroke-maker hit the fastest half ton by an English opener by scoring a quick-fire 36-ball half ton. Stokes whirlwind innings was instrumental in England scoring at a rapid pace and setting up a daunting 312-run target for the West Indies. England's impressive 113-run victory meant that the 3-match Test series for the Wisden Trophy was very much alive as the Windies had won the series opener at Southampton Test, which also marked the resumption of international cricket after the enforced break due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Ben Stokes stroked his way to an unbeaten on 78 off just 57 balls after resuming on his overnight score of 16. He tonked the Windies bowling attack by smashing 3 sixes and 4 boundaries in an entertaining and important knock on Monday morning. Resuming on their overnight score of 37-2, Ben Stokes did not waste much time and got into an attacking frame of mind, looking to cart the West Indies bowlers all around the empty Old Trafford. Skipper Joe Root also scored a quick-fire 22 and was run out before England declared on 129 for 3. Stokes' boundary laden fifty was quite contrasting to the slowest Test hundred he had registered in his first essay of the Test match.