Stokes smashes record 17 sixes on County Championship return

England's newly-appointed Test captain Ben Stokes returned to County Championship in style as he clubbed a competition record of 17 sixes and eight boundaries in his 88-ball 161 on Friday. Stokes' blitzkrieg alongside opener Sean Dickson's 104 and David Bedingham's 135 helped Durham to declare their first innings at 580/6.

Stokes, who has not played red-ball cricket for Durham since 2018, clobbered 34 runs off Josh Baker's 117th over which included five consecutive sixes and a boundary. Stokes completed his ninth FC ton while South African batter Keegan Petersen (50) and Durham skipper added Scott Borthwick added 89 runs to the big total.

Stokes had last played for Durham in the 2021 T20 Blast and scored 8 runs and claimed 1-15 from two overs.

In reply, Worcestershire lost top four for 41 runs in their first innings.