World Cup 2023, England vs Netherlands in Photos: Ben Stokes and bowlers help Three Lions to vital win in Champions Trophy run

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Ben Stokes fired his first century at the ICC World Cup 2023 as former champions England thrashed Netherlands by 160 runs at the MCA International Stadium in Pune. The victory pushed the Three Lions from the bottom of the points table to the seventh spot and will play next play Pakistan for a place in the Champions Trophy 2025.

England, who are already out of the semifinal run, had their moment of worries with the middle-order collapsing but Ben Stokes's 108 and Chris Woakes' 51 helped them to recover to a sumptuous 339/9 run on the board. In response, the Netherlands folded for just 179 in 37.2 overs. The defending champions will take on Pakistan in their last match in Kolkata on Saturday.

Opting to bat, Stokes (108 off 83) initially provided the stability in the middle before opening up towards the end, while David Malan (87 off 74) got England off to a flier with his breezy knock during which he hit 10 fours and two sixes to power England to 339 for nine. Stokes struck six fours and as many hits over the fence, while Chris Woakes too did his bit with a 45-ball 51.

Chasing a huge target of 340, Netherlands lost their first wicket in the fifth over when Max O'Dowd gave a simple catch to Moeen Ali at mid-on off the bowling of Chris Woakes. Barresi (37) and Sybrand Engelbrecht (33) tried their best to stabilise the chase with a 55-run stand for the third wicket before Baressi was run out.

Engelbrecht was then holed out by Woakes at mid-on to hand Willey his second wicket of the day, while Bas de Leede played on an Adil Rashid delivery. Netherlands skipper Scott Edwards and Nidamanuru then shared 59 runs for the sixth wicket before the former gave a simple catch to Willey at mid-off of Ali's bowling. Thereafter, Netherlands wickets fell like nine pins as they were bowled out for 179 in 37.2 overs.