Ben Stokes has had no luck as a bowler at Lord's, but spectacularly cashed in with the bat as his record-breaking hundred helped to put England in with a chance of an improbable victory against New Zealand.
Stokes' 85-ball century, the fastest ever at HQ, gave England the extra impetus to race to 429 for six on day four of the first Investec Test.
It was captain Alastair Cook's near nine-hour 153 not out from 327 balls which ensured England could turn defence into attack, via first Joe Root (84) and then Stokes (101) in stands of 158 and 132 for a lead of 295.
But the latter was the crowd-pleaser, with his 15 fours and three sixes into the Tavern and Mound stands - and the all-rounder joked, after 21 wicketless overs in New Zealand's first-innings 523 all out, that his bad luck with the ball is ensuring success as a batsman.
There was no especially outrageous fortune in his remarkable innings, full of assured hitting.
But a modest Stokes said: "It's probably why I'm getting no wickets at the moment, because I keep top-edging them over the (wicket)keeper, and just short of the fielders.
"It's a funny game, cricket. Another day, I could have holed out for 10 and looked stupid."
Instead, he raced to his century - after which, on the dressing-room balcony, Root reprised the Grenada salute with which Marlon Samuels taunted Stokes after a spell of hapless bowling there too in the second Test against the West Indies last month.
Stokes was too busy celebrating his achievement in front of a near full house to spot Root's humour straightaway, but saw the funny side later.
"I didn't see it at the time," he said.
"But once I got back up to the changing room, Sky showed it on the replay - and I had a bit of a chuckle."
New Zealand-born Stokes excelled in the first innings too against his native country, with 92.
He knows his parents back in Christchurch will be cheering him on, but does not sound so sure about which team they may want to win the two-match series.
"They always want me to do well," he said.
"I haven't spoken to them for a couple of days. They always support me, but I don't know who they'll be going for."
Kiwi batsman Ross Taylor was not shy to remind Stokes of his heritage, out in the middle.
"He lived in New Zealand for 10 years," said Taylor.
"I did ask him if his mum and dad would be watching ."
The question fell on deaf ears, although Stokes did pick up a remark from Tim Southee - who conceded all three of those sixes.
It referred to the province of his birth - but after Stokes' decade in England, seems to have been lost in translation.
"The only comment was from Tim, who said 'Oh, it's the Canterbury coming out in you' - because I kept on nicking it over the slips,"added Stokes.
"I don't know what that means."
Source: PA
