Batting first after winning the toss, England put up an impressive 339/9 on the board. While Stokes top-scored for the team, opener Dawid Malan contributed 87 off 74 balls. Rashid (3/54), Moeen (3/42) and David Willey (2/19) then combined to bowl out Netherlands for 179 in 37.2 overs.
England lost Jonny Bairstow (15) cheaply again as he top-edged an attempted a pull off Aryan Dutt. Malan and Joe Root (28) then added 85 for the second wicket before the latter perished to Logan van Beek, completely making a mockery of his reverse scoop and getting bowled between his legs.
Malan was looking good for his second hundred of the World Cup, but was run out 13 short after being sent back by Stokes, attempting a risky run. Malan’s impressive knock featured 10 fours and two sixes. Even as Stokes held one end up and found crucial boundaries, England lost Harry Brook (11), Jos Buttler (5) and Moeen (4) to stumble to 192/6.
Chris Woakes (51 off 45), however, gave good company to Stokes as the duo added 129 runs for the seventh wicket. Woakes clubbed five fours and a six before falling to Bas de Leede. Stokes went on to complete a brilliant ton, hitting six fours and as many sixes before being dismissed in the final over.
Chasing a huge target, Netherlands were never in the hunt. Max O’Dowd’s (5) poor run continued as he chipped Woakes to mid-on. Colin Ackermann (0) then perished to a beauty from Willey outside off stump. Wesley Barresi scored 37 off 62, but was run out following a bizarre mix-up to leave Netherlands in trouble at 68/3 in the 18th over.
Teja Nidamanuru (41* off 34), skipper Scott Edwards (38 off 42) and Sybrand Engelbrecht (33 off 49) offered some resistance, but the England spinners were too good for the lower order, wrapping up the tail in quick time.
--By A Cricket Correspondent
