Ben Stokes scores two fifties and takes seven wickets in first red-ball match since international retirement

Ben Stokes produced a commanding all-round performance in his first red-ball match since retiring from international cricket, scoring two half-centuries and claiming seven wickets as Durham defeated Derbyshire by 338 runs in the County Championship Division Two.

The former England Test captain had previously played nine matches in the One-Day Cup before Durham were eliminated by Middlesex in the semi-final. This County Championship fixture marked his return to four-day cricket and was his fourth Championship appearance of the season.

Stokes scored 53 in the first innings as Durham posted 283. He then contributed with the ball, striking twice in four overs to help restrict Derbyshire to 156. Matthew Potts claimed a five-wicket haul in that innings, with no Derbyshire batter reaching the 30-run mark.

In the second innings, Stokes improved on his first-innings effort with an unbeaten 66. Ben McKinney scored 140, and Will Rhodes added 52 as Durham set Derbyshire a target of 423. Stokes then saved his best for last, taking 5-17 to bowl Derbyshire out for 84 and seal the 338-run victory.

How did Stokes take three wickets in one over?

Stokes opened the 12th over of Derbyshire's second innings by dismissing Brooke Guest for 11. With the very next ball, he trapped Anuj Dal leg-before. Ben Aitchison survived the following delivery but edged the ball after that to slip, completing a three-wicket burst in four balls within the same over.

The spell was the decisive moment in Durham's second-innings bowling effort. His combined figures across both innings gave him seven wickets in the match alongside his two half-centuries, underlining his value as an all-rounder even in his first red-ball outing since stepping away from international cricket.

Where do Durham stand in the County Championship after this win?

The comprehensive victory lifted Durham to the top of the County Championship Division Two table. They have now recorded six wins from nine matches in the 2026 season, making them the most consistent side in the competition at this stage.

Durham's next County Championship fixture is against Gloucestershire, scheduled to begin on August 27 at Chester-le-Street. Stokes will be central to their title ambitions as the season enters its final stretch.