Ben Stokes produced an unbeaten century to guide Durham to a dramatic five-wicket victory over Derbyshire in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup on Thursday. Stokes, making his first appearance since retiring from international cricket, scored 108 not out off 123 balls, helping Durham chase down a target of 257 with just five deliveries remaining.

Durham found themselves in early trouble at 24 for 2 while responding to Derbyshire’s total of 256 for 9. However, Stokes anchored the innings, overcoming several bouts of cramp to lead the side to victory. His teammate Luke Robinson, who took 3 wickets for 44 runs in his ten overs, praised Stokes’ performance, describing him as an “unbelievable” match-winner with a calming presence on the field.

Robinson highlighted Stokes’ resilience under pressure, noting that despite physical discomfort and attempts from Derbyshire players to run him out, Stokes continued to hit boundaries and run between the wickets. “If you tell Ben Stokes to leave the pitch there’s no chance, he was always staying out there because we know he can do that,” Robinson said.

Durham head coach Ryan Campbell also commended Stokes’ determination and composure. “He’s so determined. He’s just so calm and thinking in his mind how to solve the problem. He’s an incredible player and I’m just glad he’s a Durham player,” Campbell remarked, joking that Stokes might need a preseason to get fully fit.

Derbyshire’s innings featured a strong contribution from opener Martin Andersson, who scored 112 runs. Despite his effort, Derbyshire were unable to set a total sufficient to secure victory. Andersson acknowledged that while their bowling and fielding performance was commendable, the batting let the side down at crucial moments. “We were in a good position at 180 for 2, and then we lost three wickets for only a few runs. I think as a batting group we have to put our hands up, we should have got more which would have made it tighter,” he said.

The win marks a significant boost for Durham, with Stokes’ return to domestic cricket providing both runs and a morale lift for the squad.