IND vs ENG: Ben Stokes matches Andrew Flintoff with rare bat-ball double in Test series

NEW DELHI: Ben Stokes etched his name into the history books during the fourth Test against India at Old Trafford, becoming the first England captain to score over 300 runs and take more than 15 wickets in a single Test series.In a remarkable all-round performance in Manchester, Stokes hammered a 198-ball 141—his first century in two years—and claimed six wickets across both innings, including a five-wicket haul in the first.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!So far in the series, Stokes has amassed 304 runs in seven innings at an average of 43.42, with one century. With the ball, he has been just as lethal, claiming 17 wickets at 25.23—making him the leading wicket-taker in the series. His best figures stand at 5/72, along with another four-wicket haul.Only once in the last 40 years has an England player managed such a feat: Andrew Flintoff during the iconic 2005 Ashes series. Flintoff scored 402 runs at 40.20, including a century and three fifties, and picked up 24 wickets at 27.29.Stokes also equalled Ian Botham’s tally of 12 ‘Player of the Match’ awards for England—just one behind Joe Root’s 13, the most by any English player.After being put in to bat, India posted 358 in their first innings, with solid contributions from Yashasvi Jaiswal (58), Sai Sudharsan (61), and Rishabh Pant (54). England’s bowlers, led by Stokes (5/72) and Jofra Archer (3/73), kept breakthroughs coming, preventing any big partnerships from forming.In reply, England unleashed a batting onslaught. Openers Zak Crawley (84) and Ben Duckett (94) stitched a 166-run partnership, followed by dominant knocks from Joe Root (150) and Stokes himself (141). Their combined effort propelled England to a massive 669-run total, giving them a 311-run first-innings lead. Ravindra Jadeja was the pick of India’s bowlers with 4/143, while Jasprit Bumrah struggled, returning 2/112.India’s second innings began in trouble, with Chris Woakes removing both openers for ducks. But KL Rahul (90) and captain Shubman Gill (103) responded with grit, adding a crucial 188-run partnership across three sessions.The finishing touches came from Ravindra Jadeja (107*) and Washington Sundar (101*), who combined for a 203-run stand for the fifth wicket. The duo frustrated England with their composure and defiance, batting India to safety and finishing at 425/4.The draw means England maintain a 2-1 lead in the five-match series, with the final Test scheduled to begin at The Oval on July 31.