SUPER BEN... SUPER MEN!

Sensational Stokes laid the ghosts of his T20 final nightmare of 2016 by doing what he does best heroically bringing home victory

-  DEAN WILSON

SIX years ago his eyes were glazed over staring into the distance as he tried to compute what Carlos Brathwaite had done in his last over of a T20 World Cup final there for the taking.

The trophy had been snatched out of Ben Stokes' hands as Brathwaite struck four successive sixes and West Indies were the champions.

This time, as the downpour weather forecasters predicted for Melbourne barely showed up, Stokes rose to the occasion to ensure England completed their World Cup double.

He scored the run that sealed a five-wicket victory over Pakistan with six balls to spare. From glazed-over eyes to eyes that were laser focused. In a career littered with special moments, accolades and silverware, Stokes somehow got the chance to avenge one of his lowest points and he grabbed it with both hands.

For a generation of young England fans, cricket is a sport where 22 players bat and bowl against each other and at the end Ben Stokes wins the game.

That is precisely what happened at the MCG.