New Zealand has been set a 283-run target for victory in the World Cup opener against England at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium.
Black Caps captain Tom Latham won the toss and elected to field first, with England opener Jonny Bairstow clipping the second delivery of the tournament over fine leg for six.
New Zealand quick Matt Henry called for a review after trapping David Malan on the pads the following over, but Hawkeye suggested the ball was bouncing over middle stump.
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Latham put down a tough chance against Mitch Santner’s bowling later in the Powerplay, giving Malan an extra life at the crease, but the Black Caps gloveman redeemed himself the following over. Malan prodded outside off stump while facing Henry, edging a simple catch through to Latham for 14 (24).
After a slow start, former England captain Joe Root nailed a trademark reserve ramp against Trent Boult over the slips cordon. However, Bairstow threw his wicket away a few overs later, chipping a full delivery from Santner towards long off for 33 (35).
Black Caps spinner Rachin Ravindra was brought into the attack in the 17th over, with Harry Brook slapping three consecutive boundaries against the left-armer. The Yorkshire attempted a fourth, but instead top-edged a pull shot towards deep mid-wicket, sheepishly departing for 25 (16).
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Part-time spinner Glenn Phillips was thrown the ball in the 22nd over, immediately knocking over England all-rounder Moeen Ali with a delivery that crept under his bat and crashed into the pegs.
However, Root combined with captain Jos Buttler for a 70-run partnership for the fifth wicket, reaching his 37th ODI half-century in 57 deliveries.
Henry returned to the attack and toppled Buttler for 43 (42) after the right-hander attempted to guide a length delivery down to third man, instead feathering a catch through to Latham.
After copping a nasty blow to the helmet, Liam Livingstone raced towards 20 before Boult deceived the Englishman with a knuckleball, caught at long-on by Henry. Soon after, Root was bowled through his legs for 77 (86) after attempting an audacious reverse sweep against Phillips, exposing England’s lower order.
Santner and Henry set about cleaning up the tail, but Adil Rashid and Mark Wood combined for an unbeaten 30-run partnership to steer the defending champions towards 9-282.
Remarkably, every member of England’s side reached double figures, which had never previously been achieved in ODI cricket.
England all-rounder Ben Stokes was ruled out of the World Cup final rematch due to injury, as was Black Caps quick Lockie Ferguson.
England XI: Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c), Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, Chris Woakes, Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood
New Zealand XI: Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (c, wk), Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Trent Boult
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