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.