Pune/IBNS/UNI: Ben Stokes' century and the bowlers powered England to a 160-run victory over Netherlands in the Cricket World Cup 2023 here on Wednesday.

Chasing 340, Netherlands were bowled out for 160 runs in 37.2 overs in a match which had no significance in terms of race to the semi-finals.

Moeen Ali (3/42) and Adil Rashid (3/54) led the English bowling unit in overpowering the Netherlands batting.

Stokes powers England in posting big total

From being 215/6 at the 40 over mark, England managed to reach 339/9 at the end of their innings against Netherlands.

Dawid Malan's attacking 87 guided England in the early stages, whereas a superb ton from Ben Stokes (108), along with big hits from the tailenders helped England get to an imposing total in Pune.

Stokes hit six fours and an equal number of sixes during his knock

After being beaten by a brilliant Logan van Beek delivery, Malan took off in style, hitting a hat-trick of boundaries. A number of fours streamed over the next few overs, even as England were going ahead at a healthy run rate.

Despite losing Jonny Bairstow to the turn of Aryan Dutt, England finished their first Powerplay period at a run rate of seven.

There was a little change in the approach hereafter, as Malan unleashed a number of big shots. He was well set and pacing towards his seventh ODI hundred.

Netherlands struck back in the 21st and 22nd over. Logan van Beek got the better of Joe Root when the batsman tried to reverse-scoop him. He ended up missing the ball completely and was bowled. In the very next over, Malan was run out due to van Beek's accurate throw in the inner ring.

Ben Stokes took charge with his intent-driven batting, taking the boundaries on offer and rotating the strike. However, Netherlands ensured that they remained in the contest with regular breakthroughs. Harry Brook and Jos Buttler fell soon after the mid-innings stage to give a boost to the Dutch.

Having lost half their side by the 30-over mark, England needed their batsmen to stick around. Moeen Ali's loss for merely four runs made things worse, but Chris Woakes then joined forces with Stokes to stitch together a mammoth 129-run stand for the seventh wicket amassed in just 81 balls.

Having batted for a few overs, the duo picked pace in the final ten overs. After unleashing into Aryan Dutt with three sixes and a four in the 45th over, Stokes looked well set to lead England past 300.

92 runs were added off the last six overs, as England dealt primarily in fours and sixes. Stokes brought up his maiden Cricket World Cup ton in the 48th over.

Jos Buttler flipped the coin, and it landed in his favour. England elected to bat first, with Harry Brook and Gus Atkinson returning to the side in place of Liam Livingstone and Mark Wood.

Scott Edwards believed that he too would have batted first on this surface, but wasn't too concerned at being made to field. For them, Teja Nidamanuru came in for Saqib Zulfiqar.