Ahmedabad, Oct 5: New Zealand have started the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup with a bang as they registered a massive 9-wicket win (with 82 balls remaining) over defending champions England, here on Thursday.
Rachin Ravindra (123 not out) and Devon Conway (152 not out) were the stars of the day for the Back Caps.
In response to England’s 282/9, New Zealand crossed the target in merely 36.2 overs to make a great start to the tournament.
New Zealand lost Will Young to a first-ball duck early on in their innings. However, this brought in Ravindra, who joined forces with Conway to light up the first Powerplay. The Black Caps hit 13 fours and two sixes in the first Powerplay. Both the sixes came from Ravindra’s bat, one against Mark Wood and the other against Moeen Ali.
Having helped New Zealand to 81/1 in the first Powerplay, the duo didn’t relent and maintained the scoring rate closer to eight over the next few overs. They also achieved their personal landmarks of half-centuries in the 12th and 13th overs respectively.
The scoring rate dropped a tad bit after the drinks break, but Conway and Ravindra got back into the groove soon after. Their unbeaten stand of 177 runs (at the 25-over mark) was already the highest partnership for two New Zealand batters in a Cricket World Cup encounter. They overtook the 168-run stand between Chris Harris and Lee Germon from 1996.
The duo continued their unstoppable run after the midway mark. They reached their respective tons during their stand as well. This was Conway’s fifth and Ravindra’s maiden ODI hundred. As the duo closed in on the target, the England bowling lost its edge.
They managed to overhaul the total in the 37th over. Earlier, England were restricted to 282/9 at the back of a brilliant 3/48 from Matt Henry and meaningful contributions from Mitchell Santner (2/37) and Glenn Phillips (2/17).
During the England innings, the arrival of Jos Buttler in the 22nd over lifted the scoring rate. The England skipper took some time to get his eye in, and then went after the bowlers. His first boundary came against Ravindra, whom he carted over the rope in the 27th over.Thereafter, he kept his foot on the pedal and smashed two fours and two sixes in his innings. (IANS)
