The China Mail - Stokes strikes on England return as Bennett stars for Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe, in their first Test in England for 22 years, had been outclassed in the field as the home side piled up a mammoth 565-6 before Stokes declared on the second morning of the four-day game.

But Bennett, taking advantage of a flat pitch and indifferent bowling, restored some pride for the visitors as they reached tea on 210-5, with the 21-year-old opener unbeaten on 122.

Zimbabwe still need a further 206 runs to avoid the follow-on.

Stokes, making a comeback following a lengthy rehabilitation from his latest hamstring injury, took two wickets for no runs in 11 balls to remove Sikandar Raza and Wessly Madhevere.

Bennett rode his luck at times, edging a couple of balls and dropped in the slips by Joe Root off paceman Stokes on 89.

But he went to his hundred in superb style with three stylish fours off successive deliveries from fast bowler Gus Atkinson, with a square-drive and on-drive followed by an elegant late-cut.

In completing a 97-ball hundred, with an impressive 80 runs in boundaries, Bennett broke the record for the fastest Test century by a Zimbabwe batsman, surpassing team-mate Sean Williams' 106-ball hundred against New Zealand at Bulawayo in 2016.

Off-spinner Shoaib Bashir started his spell with a full toss that went for four, but also produced two turning balls to remove left-handed batsmen Ben Curran and Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine.

But he injured his hand, dropping a caught-and-bowled chance off Raza.

There was more drama as Stokes completed the over.

With his first legal delivery, the all-rounder had Bennett edging a lifting ball to first slip, only for Root to drop a routine catch.

But Stokes, showing his value to England as an all-rounder, had Raza caught behind for seven off a ball that lifted off a good length and cut away.

Stokes bowled Madhevere for a duck with a sharp in-ducker and at tea the 33-year-old had figures of 2-11.

Earlier, England debutant Sam Cook took his first Test wicket when Curran, on six, edged a full-length ball to Harry Brook at second slip.

- Run-spree -

England resumed play on Friday in a commanding position of 498-3, with Ollie Pope unbeaten on 169 after openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett had also made hundreds.

But Zimbabwe managed an early breakthrough.

Pope had added just two runs to his overnight score when he drove at a pitched-up delivery from Tanaka Chivanga and edged behind, bringing in Stokes, who only managed nine runs.

Brook punished Zimbabwe's outclassed attack most severely, hitting 58 off 50 balls, including six fours and three sixes.

He struck Blessing Muzarabani for successive sixes, a thumping pull preceding a remarkable pick-up shot that sailed high over fine leg.

Brook went to fifty with another six off Muzarabani before playing on to the persevering paceman, who finished with 3-143.

Q.Moore--ThChM