Ben Stokes smashed a record-breaking 161 to start his summer in brutal style for Durham against Worcestershire.
The new England Test captain was playing fantasy cricket as he clubbed the fastest ever first class hundred for Durham from just 64 balls before going on to hit his 17th six after lunch to break the record for the most sixes in an innings in English County Cricket.
Stokes swatted his 16th from the first ball after lunch to move to 153 not out and then moved one clear of both Andrew Symonds and Graham Napier when he struck Brett D'Oliveira's leg spin straight back over his head for six number 17 in an exhibition of clean hitting that took Durham to an eventual 580-6 declared.
And spare a thought for young left arm spinner Josh Baker who must have been thrilled to be bowling at Stokes in a match at the age of just 18. He sent down three balls to Stokes without conceding a run in his first over of the day, but the dream soon turned into a nightmare as the all rounder sized him up for punishment next time round.
Stokes connected with five successive sixes before missing out on a sixth as the ball bounced just inside the long on rope to go for four and take 34 from Baker’s over. The fifth six took him to his 20th first-class hundred and his first for Durham since he scored 127 against Yorkshire nine years ago.
It was 17 years ago in 2005 when fellow flame haired all rounder Paul Collingwood set the previous record for the quickest hundred for Durham against Somerset and his response to Stokes’ efforts today was to tweet simply “Ginger Power.” Baker was swiftly removed from the attack, but perhaps he can take some solace from the fact that Stokes took full toll of each and every Worcestershire bowler he faced at the picturesque New Road ground.
At the other end David Bedingham also made it to three figures, but it is safe to say that his 13th first-class century was utterly eclipsed by the sheer power and skill of Stokes. Bedingham was 81 not out when Stokes arrived at the crease to replace his best man Scott Borthwick.
And by the time they walked off together for lunch Stokes had not only caught up with his teammate, he had flown past him to score 147 to Bedingham’s 119 not out.
Stokes' incredible innings came to a close after 88 balls of thrilling entertainment when Jack Haynes took a decent catch at deep mid-wicket off D'Oliveira and Bedingham followed soon after for 135 to give the returning Baker a wicket to ease the pain from his earlier thrashing.
