Stokes delivers left, right and knockout punches in World Cup opener

Stokes' brilliant outfield catch is likely to be the catch of the tournament.

Ben Stokes starred in all facets of the game as England began their quest to win a World Cup with an emphatic 104-run win over South Africa. Stokes top-scored with 89, took 2-12 and held onto one of the best outfield catches we will ever. Aided by a potent opening spell from Jofra Arche, England began their World Cup campaign with a comfortable first up encounter.

A total of 311 is no longer a certainity of victory in this era but Archer’s opening spell of five overs set England on course. His first intervention was to deliver a bouncer, which struck the head of Hashim Amla – who was compelled to retire and undergo extensive examinations – though he was fit enough to come back later.

Soon afterwards Archer found the edge of Aiden Markram’s bat – the batsman was caught at slip – and then he induced Faf du Plessis to mishook a bouncer to Moeen Ali at long-leg. For good measure, his second spell was also productive, dispatching Rassie van der Dussen during the first maiden over of the day.

Jofra Archer celebrates a wicket in the World Cup opener.

It is not just Archer’s pace that brings an added dimension to this side; it is his command of line which offers batsmen no width. It may also help that he is unfamiliar to a fair number of international players, who may be surprised that he can conjure pace with such an easy, effortless action.

Moreover, he looks so comfortable out there. Any notion that his presence might disrupt the unity of the team has long since vanished. Eoin Morgan has acquired another high-value trump card who will also be of considerable interest to Joe Root, the Test captain, later in the summer.

The magic in the field came from Ben Stokes, who had been England’s main contributor with the bat earlier in the day. First there was a howitzer throw from the boundary, which surprised Dwaine Pretorius who was run out by a couple of inches.

Stokes then took what will almost certainly be the catch of the tournament on the same boundary, sticking out his right hand as the ball appeared to be sailing over his head after a mighty thwack from Andile Phehlukwayo off Adil Rashid. Somehow the ball stayed in Stokes’s hand as he fell to earth, producing the first victim in World Cup history for an English wrist-spinner.

Quinton de Kock was South Africa's main resistance.

South Africa’s resistance with the bat came primarily from Quinton de Kock, who had the good fortune of witnessing a delivery from Rashid hitting the base of his stumps without removing the zing bails; they lit up but did not fall. There was a blemish from Jos Buttler behind the stumps when he dropped Van der Dussen off Moeen but otherwise England sparkled in the field. That was not quite the case when they batted after Du Plessis won the toss – which, contrary to expectation, gave his side little or no advantage.

England’s innings was not the cavalier romp which has become almost customary and there were good reasons for that. The pitch was not an absolute belter; the light green grass hid a dry surface on which the ball sometimes stuck thereby hindering carefree strokeplay. Moreover this was a World Cup match, not the first outing in a five-/seven-match series. And England did lose a wicket to the second ball of the day, delivered by the wrist spinner Imran Tahir. Jonny Bairstow pushed forward, edged to the keeper and tucked his bat under his arm almost as swiftly as Alec Stewart used to do as he made the long trip back to the pavilion with a golden duck to his name.

Root and Jason Roy calmly restored England’s equilibrium, batting as smoothly as any pair throughout the day with some silky smooth strokes that brought them 106 together over the next 18 overs. But within four deliveries both were back in the pavilion: Roy miscuing to mid-off and Root slicing to cover.

Another rebuilding exercise was required and Morgan and Stokes provided it. The England captain played the more memorable shots in another 106-run partnership. In the 26th over of the innings he hit the first six of the tournament over long-off off the bowling of Lungi Ngidi; next ball he hit another over long-leg. Later England’s solitary six-hitter would pop a Markram off-break over the rope before seeking another off Tahir. This time the timing was not perfect and Du Plessis held a superb diving catch at long-on, an example of the excellent out-cricket produced by South Africa.

Buttler only flickered so that it was left to Stokes to glue the innings together. After Root he is now the sensible man in the middle order who bats pragmatically, quite a change in style from the younger Stokes, and on this occasion England were very grateful for his pragmatism.

Seventy-nine runs came from the last 10 overs of England’s innings, which hardly qualifies as carnage in this era, and it included a sweetly timed boundary from the first ball that Archer had received in a proper international match. But it was his bowling that will have the England camp salivating at what he might be able to contribute in this tournament – and beyond.

THE STAR

Stokes top-scored for England with 89.

Undoubtedly, Ben Stokes. 89 runs, 2-12, one catch and one run-out. Hard to imagine a better all-round performance in this years World Cup than what we just saw from Ben Stokes.

THE MOMENT

Ben Stokes and the Oval crowd react to his catch.

Stokes catch. Rashid was slogged swept by Phehlukwayo and looked certain to sail over Stokes head into the boundary. Somehow, a leaping, falling backwards Stokes held onto the ball with an outstretched, backwards right hand. Hard to imagine a better catch in this years World Cup

THE FAILURE

South Africa's Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla celebrate the dismissal of Johnny Bairstow.

It would be too harsh to pick apart the South Africans who were never up for the fight. Instead it was Jonny Bairstow who failed the most. Predicted by the Nightwatchman to be a player who’s form may be sliding and may be susceptible to early spin, we were hoping for a big match from Bairstow. Instead a Nostradamus like prediction saw Imran Tahir find Bairstow’s outside edge in just the second ball of the World Cup to dismiss the English star for a Golden Duck. It could have been a telling moment in the whole World Cup if it exposed an early collapse from the favourites. Instead England’s middle-order were too good.

WHAT NEXT – England take on Pakistan next on Monday, whilst South Africa are afforded 5-days between matches to recoup before taking on India on Wednesday.

TONIGHT – The West Indies and Pakistan from Trent Bridge.

The Windies take on Pakistan tonight!