All-rounder Ben Stokes set aside his off-field troubles to steer England to a six-wicket win in the second one-day international against New Zealand on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old produced a man-of-the-match performance in just his second appearance for England since being sidelined over a nightclub incident five months ago.
Stokes took two wickets for 42 then hit an unbeaten 63 as England easily chased down New Zealand’s target of 224 at Mount Maunganui.
“It’s an amazing feeling to be back in amongst the team with all the lads and even the backroom staff. I was a bit emotional walking off that field,” he said after England levelled the five-match series 1-1.
“I hope this is a stepping stone for things to come in the future, the things that we’ve got coming up.”
The man-of-the-match! @benstokes38 š
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ā England Cricket (@englandcricket) February 28, 2018
Asked if he felt under pressure, Stokes replied: “When I walked out there it was the normal feeling that I get when I walk out there.
“The one thing I wanted was to be back and walking out there and representing my country.
“It’s all about building for the future. We’ve got a really busy summer coming up. It’s great to be back with the boys.”
Stokes judged that his bowling performance was rusty after only his second game for England since September, with the first coming in the opening ODI which ended in defeat to New Zealand in Hamilton.
He said: “Nothing replicates match bowling – you can’t get that in training. Hopefully I’ve got those cobwebs out.
“The batting feels in good order and the bowling will come with time.”
Trent Boult made early inroads as New Zealand tried to defend their modest total, dislodging Jason Roy for eight and Joe Root for nine.
Jonny Bairstow made a rapid-fire 37, then Morgan and Stokes dug in for an 88-run partnership that had England at 144 for three after 25 overs.
Morgan notched his first ODI 50 in 11 innings off 48 balls before departing on 62 before Stokes brought up 50 off 54 balls with a six edged over the keeper’s head.
Earlier, Black Cap spinner Mitchell Santner scored his maiden limited overs half-century as the New Zealand tail to give the home team’s score some respectability.
Santner’s unbeaten 63 off 52 balls was the highlight of New Zealand’s innings, with in-form opener Martin Guptill also scoring 50.
But a superb fielding display from England saw New Zealand bowled out for 223 with two balls remaining.
England pulled off a string of sharply taken catches and ran out four batsman, ensuring that every chance their bowlers created resulted in a wicket.
