Ben Stokes Stunned by Yuzvendra Chahal's Shane Warne-Esque Delivery in County Championship 2026
Yuzvendra Chahal bowled a 'ball of the century' contender to dismiss Ben Stokes on Day 1 of the County Championship Division Two match between Northamptonshire and Durham at the County Ground on September 2, 2026.
Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has once again underlined his class, delivering a 'ball of the century' contender to dismiss England Test captain Ben Stokes on Day 1 of the County Championship Division Two encounter between Northamptonshire and Durham. The sensational delivery at the County Ground in Northampton left Stokes, one of the game's most formidable batsmen, utterly bamboozled, drawing comparisons to Shane Warne's dismissal of Andrew Strauss in Ashes 2005. Auqib Nabi Dismisses India Teammate Kuldeep Yadav to Claim Maiden County Championship Wicket.
Yuzvendra Chahal Bamboozles Ben Stokes
That is sensational pic.twitter.com/ChwDk7JfLR
— Rothesay County Championship (@CountyChamp) September 3, 2026
The highly anticipated 43rd match of the County Championship Division Two season began on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at 09:30 AM BST. Durham, currently leading the Division Two standings with 191 points from 10 matches, elected to bat first against third-placed Northamptonshire, who boast 151 points from their 10 outings.
Yuzvendra Chahal's Warne-Esque Wizardry
The moment of brilliance arrived when Durham were looking to consolidate their innings. Chahal, 36, who rejoined Northamptonshire for the second half of the 2026 season and has already taken five wickets in a couple of County Championship games this year, extracted prodigious turn from outside Stokes' off-stump. The ball drifted in, pitched, and then spun sharply past the 35-year-old Stokes' bewildered bat, crashing into the top of off-stump. It was a classic leg-spinner's dismissal, leaving the seasoned former international star completely flummoxed and sparking wild celebrations from the Northamptonshire faithful.
While Durham's top order, including Alex Lees (24) who was also dismissed by Chahal earlier in the day, struggled against the wily spinner, opener Mayank Agarwal (25 not out) and David Bedingham (57 not out) showed resilience to guide Durham to 129/3 by stumps on Day 1. Auqib Nabi Joins Surrey for Three County Championship Matches in 2026.
Match at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Northamptonshire vs Durham, 43rd Match |
| Competition | County Championship Division Two 2026 |
| Venue | County Ground, Northampton |
| Date | Day 1: Wednesday, September 2, 2026 |
| Start Time | 09:30 AM BST |
| Toss | Durham, elected to bat first |
| Day 1 Score | Durham 129/3 (30.5 overs) at Stumps |
Recent Form & Standings
Durham has been in strong form, sitting comfortably at the top of the Division Two table, while Northamptonshire is in a strong contention spot. The contest is crucial for both teams as Durham aims for promotion to Division One and Northamptonshire seeks to close the gap on the leaders. The battle between experienced campaigners like Chahal and world-class all-rounders like Stokes promises more enthralling cricket as the match progresses.
Chahal's spellbinding delivery serves as a stark reminder of the enduring artistry of leg-spin and its capacity to turn a game on its head. With two more days of play remaining, this encounter is poised to deliver further drama, with the immediate focus on whether Durham can build a substantial first-innings total.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 03, 2026 04:56 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
