Stokes and Bennett shine before Zimbabwe follow on

Trent Bridge, the only test, is the second of four days.

England 565-6 dec (Pope 171, Duckett 140, Crawley 124, Muzarabani 3-143)

Zimbabwe 265 (Bennett 139, Bashir 3-62) &amp, 30-2 (Williams 22*)

Zimbabwe are 270 runs back.

Before England made Zimbabwe follow on the second day of the one-off Test at Trent Bridge, Ben Stokes made a hint about a return to his best and Brian Bennett delivered a stunning century.

Stokes, England’s skipper, had surgery on his hamstring for the first time in his impressive 3.2 overs, and he took a commanding 2-11.

With Zimbabwe’s fastest Test hundred, from 97 balls, Opener Bennett delighted Nottingham’s dancing fans. His 265 overall was the tourists’ backbone, with his 139 being the hero.

Shoaib Bashir, an off-spinner, was awarded a 3-62 run, while Sam Cook and Josh Tongue each took a wicket each on their debut.

England asked Zimbabwe to bat again, bowling for the second time before the end of the third Test, which had a horrifying 300-run lead over the opening day.

Gus Atkinson had previously trapped him in his leg, while Craig Ervine slammed Tongue to the short leg to leave Zimbabwe 30-2, still 270 behind.

England earlier declared 565-6, moving up from their overnight 498-3.

Harry Brook hit a 48-ball half-century despite only scoring nine runs from 27 deliveries on Friday morning, before falling short of Ollie Pope for 171.

Due to its unilateral nature, England’s gluttonous run-scoring on the opening day was almost on point.

At the conclusion of the second day, the hosts’ grip on the match is still as strong, but Friday at least had elements of back-and-forth, some captivating cricket, and an upbeat atmosphere brought on by Zimbabwe supporters.

The 21-year-old Bennett, who was not born the last time these two teams played a Test against one another, picked up Brook after he blazed away in the first hour. What a wonderful moment his joyful celebration of achieving three figures was.

Bennett’s strokeplay demonstrated the relaxed nature of the surface, just like the previous home batters, and there were instances when England’s bowlers were called in for action.

After six months, Stokes’ sight of him finishing his run sprang into a frisson of excitement around Trent Bridge. The captain delivered 20 thrilling deliveries, which indicated he is back in top form and prepared for the challenges awaiting India and Australia.

With 13 previous victories, Atkinson, Tongue, and Cook make the most inexperienced specialist pace trio that England have faced in a home test since Zimbabwe last won it in 2003. Even so, Stokes, who has more than 200 wickets to his name, is discounted.

Whether or not the captain intended to bowl, he was at his best when he did when he did. His pace was quick and explosive, and Stokes sabotaged the pace of the other England pacers.

Cook frequently lost his line, but Ben Curran at least prodded it as it bounced and nipped. Atkinson looked uneasy about bite until he scored two late wickets, while Tongue impressed in a fiery opening partnership and later blasted out Bennett.

Stokes appeared determined to give Bashir a lengthy bowl. His three wickets totaled more than the two he had earlier this year. When Bashir cut his finger while trying to take a return catch, which required Stokes to call himself, four balls into the thirteenth over of the spell.

His first delivery was a no-ball, and Joe Root dropped him at first slip in his second, which took Bennett’s lead. Wesley Madhevere was chopped on in the following over, and Stokes had Sikandar Raza fight off in the following.

Zimbabwe might have fallen off the hook after a demoralizing day and a half. Bennett, the swashbuckling opener who scored his first Test century against Afghanistan in a Boxing Day Test last year, was largely responsible for that conflict.

He made some money. He inside-edged past his own stumps and twice edged Cook at a height that was catching up to the slips. Stokes was dropped off, and later, he fended Tongue to the Pope’s short-legged off a no-ball.

Bennett’s conviction for his shot-making was also commendable. There were a few T20 hacks on occasion, but some dreamy on-drives outperformed them. With only 42, Sean Williams and Tafadzwa Tsiga passing 20, Bennett added 65, while captain Ervine added 42.

He became the third Zimbabwean to reach a Test hundred against England and the first since Murray Goodwin 25 years ago when he reached three figures with a cut off Atkinson.

The final four wickets for 19 runs were eventually saved by Bennett when Pope was caught off a legal Tongue short ball. Richard Ngarava, who was injured, did not bat.

Bennett’s innings was special, special. I enjoyed the fight shown by Zimbabwe, but the gap in class has once more been obvious.

On the Test Match Special, Zimbabwe opener Brian Bennett said, “It was obviously a wonderful day. I’m really proud to have spent that long fielding, to go out, open the batting, and do what I did.