England Reach 5-182 Chasing 463 as Stokes Scores 95 for Durham

Ben Stokes scored 95 runs for Durham against Northamptonshire on the same day England ended day four of the second Test at The Oval on 5-182 while chasing a target of 463 runs. Stokes was omitted from England’s squad for the second Test and joined his county side in a four-day County Championship Division Two fixture at Chester-le-Street.

The ECB is investigating an incident involving Stokes and Gus Atkinson in a London nightclub after England’s 115-run win in the first Test at Lord’s.

Atkinson broke the team curfew following that match. Joe Root captained England in Stokes’ absence and remained not out on 75 runs at stumps. Root reached 14,000 Test career runs during the innings, becoming only the second player after Sachin Tendulkar to reach the milestone.

He came to the crease with England at 2-13, needing two runs to reach the total. No decision has been announced on whether Stokes will return as captain or player for the third Test at Trent Bridge. The ECB is awaiting a report from the Cricket Regulator regarding Stokes and Atkinson.