Two 50s, seven wickets: How Ben Stokes fared on his red-ball return after international retirement

Ben Stokes delivered a superb all-round performance for Durham in his first red-ball match since retiring from international cricket in June.He scored two fifties and took seven wickets as Durham crushed Derbyshire by 338 runs in the County Championship.Stokes makes an impact with bat and ballAfter Durham posted 283 in their first innings, Stokes scored 53 before making an immediate impact with the ball.

He took two wickets as Derbyshire were bowled out for 156, while Matthew Potts claimed five wickets.Stokes then produced an even better batting performance in the second innings, remaining unbeaten on 66. Along with Ben McKinney's 140 and Will Rhodes' 52, he helped Durham set Derbyshire a huge target of 423.Five-wicket haul seals massive victoryStokes saved his best performance for the final innings.

He took 5-17 as Derbyshire collapsed for just 84, completing a seven-wicket match haul. His devastating spell included three wickets in four balls.He began the 12th over by dismissing Brooke Guest for 11 and then trapped Anuj Dal lbw with the next delivery. After Ben Aitchison survived the third ball, he edged the fourth to slip.The emphatic victory moved Durham to the top of the County Championship table with six wins from nine matches.

They will next face Gloucestershire at Chester-le-Street from August 27.The performance gives Stokes a strong start to his return to regular red-ball cricket after stepping away from the international game.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.