3 minute read

England vice-captain Ben Stokes has taken his first wicket for Canterbury but was later run out for a duck in their domestic one-day game.

Ben Stokess' stint in New Zealand cricket has continued with the England allrounder run out for a duck in a domestic one-day game.

Stokes, who is sweating on a verdict from UK prosecutors regarding his brawl outside a Bristol club in September that left a man with a fractured eye socket, is barred from internationals but has been cleared to play domestic cricket with Canterbury.

The allrounder returned figures of 1-56 from 10 overs in Sunday's one-day fixture at Christchurch's Hagley Oval between Canterbury and Northern Districts.

But he later paid the price for ball watching from the non-striker's end, having faced just one delivery.

Called through for a single by partner Michael Pollard, Stokes hesitated as Brett Randell collected the ball at mid-on and threw down the stumps.

Stokes earlier pocketed a return catch to dismiss Northern Districts allrounder Anton Devcich in his ninth over, claiming his first wicket for Canterbury in his third game for the team.

Defending champions Canterbury, chasing their first win of the one-day competition, were set a target of 275.

Christchurch-born Stokes is playing in his country of birth while waiting to learn if he'll be able to play in Australia this summer.

Stokes was last week provisionally named in England's ODI squad for the five-match series that follows the Ashes.

"I would bet my bottom dollar that unless this case comes to an end very quickly, there is no chance that Ben Stokes will play cricket in Australia this (UK) winter," former captain Michael Vaughan said last week.

"They don't want to prejudice any kind of case moving forward. They had to include him in the squad.

"It's very confusing but I don't think anything has changed."

England's squad are struggling to shake off allegations they have a problem with booze after incidents involving Stokes, Jonny Bairstow and Ben Duckett.

The England and Wales Cricket Board placed Stokes under suspension, but the ban applies only to England matches and it has raised no objection to Stokes playing in New Zealand.

In his Canterbury debut against Otago in Rangiora a week ago, Stokes faced seven balls and made two runs before being bowled by Otago spinner Anaru Kitchen.

Three days later he made 34 off 41 balls before he was trapped lbw when trying to sweep legspinner Tarun Nethula.