Ben Stokes struck the highest score by an England batsman in a one-day international on Wednesday, his 182 setting up a thrashing of New Zealand at The Oval as he sent a warning to the champions' World Cup rivals just weeks before they begin the defence of their 50-over title in India.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Stokes's stunning innings was just slightly more than England's colossal 181-run margin of victory that put them 2-1 up in a four-match series ahead of Friday's finale at Lord's.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
England were struggling at 13-2 after Trent Boult's early double strike, which included Jonny Bairstow's exit off the first ball of the match.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But Stokes and Dawid Malan (96) hit back with a third-wicket stand of 199 as England recovered to 368 all out.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
New Zealand's Glenn Phillips kept England at bay with 72 but when he was lbw to spinner Liam Livingstone, the Black Caps were all but beaten at 173-8.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Livingstone (3-16) ended the match with 11 overs to spare when he had No 11 Ben Lister stumped by England captain Jos Buttler as New Zealand were dismissed for 187.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Coming back into the team after a while out, it's nice to come back and help the team," said player-of-the-match Stokes at the presentation ceremony.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
- 'Amazing' -<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n Buttler hailed Stokes's innings by saying: "He's played a few good ones, but that was amazing."<\/p>\r\n\r\n Boult kept New Zealand in the game with an impressive 5-51 in 9.1 overs, although England were set for a huge total at 348-5 when Stokes was dismissed.<\/p>\r\n\r\n But they lost their last five wickets for 20 runs, left-arm quick Boult wrapping up the innings with 11 balls to spare.<\/p>\r\n\r\n England, however, had more than enough runs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Chris Woakes (3-31) did the bulk of the damage as New Zealand -- without regular skipper Kane Williamson while the star batsman completes a pre-World Cup recovery from a knee injury -- slumped to 37-4, with Reece Topley in the wickets as well.<\/p>\r\n\r\n England begin their quest to retain their 50-over global title defence against New Zealand -- the team they defeated in a dramatic 2019 'Super Over' World Cup final at Lord's -- in Ahmedabad on October 5.<\/p>\r\n\r\n And New Zealand coach Gary Stead said: "I don't mind Ben Stokes. I'd rather he scored them (runs) now than on October 5."<\/p>\r\n\r\n Stead took some comfort from the form of Boult, back in New Zealand's ODI set-up this series for the first time in 12 months after turning down a central contract to play in Australia's lucrative Big Bash League.<\/p>\r\n\r\n "It's great to have Trent back," said Stead. "In two games he's showed his ability as a world-class player to knock the top off England. It's just a pity we haven't capitalised on those starts."<\/p>\r\n\r\n Earlier, the 34-year-old Boult had Bairstow caught at deep backward square before inducing Joe Root to inside-edge onto his stumps.<\/p>\r\n\r\n But Stokes hit back in remarkable fashion with a 124-ball innings, including 15 fours and nine sixes, that surpassed Jason Roy's previous England record of 180 against Australia at Melbourne in 2018.<\/p>\r\n\r\n One worrying sign for England, however, was the familiar sight of Stokes, whose previous ODI top score was 102 not out, grimacing in pain thanks to a chronic knee problem he hopes to manage all the way through the World Cup.<\/p>\r\n\r\n But Stokes, off the field at the start of New Zealand's chase, said: "I just needed a little bit of treatment..."It (the knee injury) is getting better and better."<\/p>\r\n\r\n Boult again troubled an England top-order once more missing Roy after the opener suffered a fresh back spasm.<\/p>\r\n\r\n But Malan, who missed England's 79-run win in Southampton on Sunday to attend the birth of his son, responded with a 52-ball fifty as he looked to cement his place in a 15-man World Cup squad.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Malan, fell just shy of what would have been his fifth hundred in 20 ODIs when he got a faint edge to wicketkeeper Tom Latham.<\/p>\r\n\r\n