Returning Stokes hits ton as Durham beat Derbyshire

Ben Stokes grabbed the headlines once again with a typically gutsy century on his return to competitive action for the first time since retiring from Test cricket three weeks ago.

He even defied severe cramp to help Durham beat Derbyshire in the One-Day Cup.

The all-rounder was playing his first List A game for his county for nearly 12 years and displayed all of his hallmark grit as he battled repeated bouts of cramp - collapsing in pain as he reached his fifty - to drag his side to their target of 257 with a superb unbeaten knock of 108.

Earlier, Stokes bowled nine overs but failed to take a wicket as Derbyshire's Martin Andersson's well-measured century formed the backbone of the Falcons' 256-9.

Ben Aitchison's two early wickets pegged Durham back but Stokes found good support from Will Rhodes (45), Colin Ackermann and Ollie Robinson, as he hobbled past three figures to complete a stunning domestic return and seal a five-wicket win.

Despite a clash with the opening day of this year's Hundred competition, the prospect of seeing Stokes in action for the first time since his retirement from the international scene at the end of last month meant hundreds more eyeballs were on the action at the County Ground as the former England captain took to the field.

He sent down nine reasonably economic overs but failed to pick up a wicket in his 0-38 as Andersson's ton got the Falcons to 256-9.

With Andersson and Brooke Guest together, hopes of a total in excess of 300 were high but Guest's departure for 48 began a steady stream of wickets as Andersson ultimately ran out of partners.

Batting at four, Stokes came out with 24 on the board after Aitchison's initial burst had removed both openers.

After a measured start, the 35-year-old moved through the gears, before showing the first signs of cramp as he neared his half-century, which came up with his fifth four in 71 balls.

In the midst of repeated bouts of treatment from the physio, Stokes added 74 with Rhodes, 66 with Ackermann (28), 52 with Robinson (23) and 41 with captain Kasey Aldridge (23) to break the back of the chase with an innings that showed the character synonymous with many of his knocks for England.

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