Stokes powers England to 6-wicket win over Kiwis

Mount Maunganui [New Zealand]: All-rounder Ben Stokes played an unbeaten knock of 63 runs as England registered a six-wicket victory over New Zealand to level the five match ODI series at 1-1.

Coming in to bat first, the hosts were bundled out on under-par score of 223 after Mitchell Santner scored his maiden ODI half-century. Martin Guptill also stuck a fifty.

Chasing the total, England got off to a poor start as opener Jason Roy got out cheaply on eight to Trent Boult.

In the ninth over, Joe Root was dismissed with Colin de Grandhomme taking a sensational one-hand diving catch off Boult, giving him his second wicket.

Jonny Bairstow was caught out on 37 by third man off Lockie Ferguson.

It was skipper Eoin Morgan and Stokes who then led the counterattack for England.

Stokes put on 88 with Morgan who scored 62 before being dismissed by Colin Munro.

Stokes and Jos Buttler remained unbeaten on 63 and 36 respectively to guide England to victory with 12.1 overs to spare.

Stokes, who was playing in his second international comeback match after five months out, earlier shared two wickets each with Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes.