- Ben Stokes was playing against Auckland his second Canterbury appearance
- The England all-rounder scored 34 with the bat after hitting just two on debut
- Stokes is currently suspended by England after being involved in a brawl
Suspended England all-rounder Ben Stokes struck an encouraging 34 in his second appearance for Canterbury on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old, who is in New Zealand gaining match fitness, hit four boundaries in a 41-ball knock before being trapped lbw trying to sweep leg spinner Tarun Nethula.
It was Stokes’ second appearance for Canterbury and his display was a marked improvement on the two he scored against Otago on Sunday.
Ben Stokes plays a shot in the Ford Trophy match betweed Auckland and Canterbury
The Auckland wicketkeeper goes up for an appeal after Stokes is caught in front sweeping
Auckland spinner Tarun Nethula celebrates as Stokes walks back to the pavilion
Stokes came to the crease at the Eden Park Outer Oval against Auckland with his side 46-2 and helped put on 36 runs for the third wicket with Michael Pollard.
Stokes, 26, hasn’t played for England since an incident in Bristol on September 25 which left a 27-year-old man which a fractured eye socket.
Although he remains suspended by England the ECB had no objection to him returning to the country of his birth to keep himself in shape.
Stokes will also be hoping for an improved performance with the ball having conceded 49 runs from nine overs in the three-wicket defeat by Otago on Sunday.
It was an encouraging performance from Stokes, who only scored two runs on his debut