On Day 2 of the first Test at Lord’s Cricket Ground, England‘s captain Ben Stokes faced a moment of astonishment courtesy of  the West Indies spinner Gudakesh Motie. Motie delivered an exceptional delivery, a snorter that crashed into Stokes’ middle stump, leaving him stunned at the precision and skill displayed by the spinner.

England’s commanding display led by Harry Brook and Joe Root

England started the second day with a commanding performance spearheaded by Harry Brook and Joe Root. Their partnership flourished, pushing England to a strong position of 241/3 after 50 overs, securing a significant lead of 120 runs. Brook’s innings was particularly noteworthy, showcasing his skill with a well-crafted 50 off 64 deliveries before succumbing to a sharp bouncer from Alzarri Joseph in the 51st over.

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Ben Stokes’ swift dismissal by Gudakesh Motie

However, England’s momentum suffered a setback as captain Stokes took the crease, only to be swiftly dismissed by a masterful delivery from Motie. On the final ball of the 55th over, Motie produced a masterclass delivery to the left-handed Stokes. Pitching outside off and gripping the footmarks, the ball sharply turned back in towards the stumps. Stokes, leaning forward to drive, was left astounded as the delivery beat his inside edge with precision, crashing into middle stump.

Stokes’ reaction and disappointment

Initially displaying a mix of awe and disbelief, Stokes lingered briefly at the crease before disappointment set in, realizing the impact of Motie’s delivery on his innings. His dismissal, adding just four runs in eleven deliveries to his recent struggles, underscored a challenging phase in his batting form. Meanwhile, Motie’s teammates erupted in jubilation, celebrating his exceptional execution that bolstered West Indies’ dominant position in the match. After the dismissal of Stokes, England continued to build their innings. Joe Root played a patient innings, scoring 68 before being bowled by Motie. Jamie Smith and Chris Woakes ensured no further damage, adding 37 runs together. At lunch, England reached 293/6, leading by 172 runs.

Here’s the video:

pic.twitter.com/wRhHUQ7ePx

— Bobby Azam (@azam_bobby25175) July 11, 2024

Good ball by Motie to dismiss Stokes! #ENGvWI pic.twitter.com/KIuroRvuDA

— identity theft is a crime jim! (@bears___beets) July 11, 2024

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