Ben Stokes scored a maiden World Cup century as England recorded a 160-run win over the Netherlands in Pune on Wednesday as the struggling champions slipped to the bottom of the table.
This victory ended the five-match losing streak and England has been out of the race for the semi-finals for a long time.
But their second win in the 10-team tournament kept England’s hopes of a top-eight finish alive, which would see them qualify for the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
England were in trouble at 192-6 after another batting collapse following Stokes’ 108 and fellow all-rounder Chris Woakes’ 51, taking them to 339-9 in 50 overs.
Netherlands were never in the hunt, bundled out for 179 inside 38 overs, with Woakes and David Willey striking with the new ball, before spinners Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid took three wickets each.
“I’m very pleased to get the win over the line, it’s been a tough World Cup,” Stokes said.
“Chris Woakes is a real all-rounder. He is a very experienced cricketer. The skill he has with the bat lower down the order and to see him with the new ball tonight, it was very special.”