The ICC ODI Cricket World Cup started in Ahmedabad with a repeat of the 2019 final, and the outcome couldnāt have been more different than the Lords clash that was settled by āthe barest of marginsā. New Zealand started their campaign in impressive fashion thrashing holders England at the cavernous Narendra Modi Stadium.
New Zealand Missing Star Players
The result was more impressive when you consider the New Zealand national cricket team were missing three key players with skipper Kane Williamson still working towards full fitness after a lengthy lay off and front line bowlers Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson ruled out for the opener. Stand-in captain Tom Latham won the toss and gave the England batters the first use of a flat looking pitch.
England Struggle Stepping Up To The Crease
Englandās batting effort stuttered throughout as the Black Caps took wickets at regular intervals to keep the run rate in check. After Matt Henry induced an edge behind from Dawid Malan Jonny Bairstow became the first of Mitchell Santerās two victims as he holed out in the deep for 33. Santer was superb, not conceding a single boundary in his spell of 2 for 37 in ten overs. Harry Brook fell after hitting part time spinner Rachin Ravindra for two fours and a six in successive balls, he tried to continue in the same vein but found Devon Conway deep on the legside boundary. His short stay of 25 from just 16 balls showed promise but didnāt last long enough to propel the England cricket team into a dominant position. The glue for England was Joe Root who can probably be considered the 2019 winners only positive on a chastening day for them. Root had been in poor ODI form coming into the match but he looked at his consistent and reliable best throughout his innings of 77.
Outstanding Performance From New Zealand Batters
All eleven England batters made double figures in their competitive looking total of 282 for 9 then when Sam Curran snared Will Young down the legside for a first ball duck they would have felt well in the game. This brought Ravindra to the crease with Wellington teammate Conway and he, probably only in the team due to the absence of skipper Williamson, looked in sublime order from the outset. Curran had started with two maidens but runs seeped from the other end after Woakes porous opening spell Mark Wood was launched for 17 in his first over (his five overs cost 55 runs), Conway as well got into his stride playing some excellent strokes through the offside.
England tried everything to stem the flow but failed as the club teammates put on an unbroken 273 stand as New Zealand romped home with all of 82 deliveries remaining, Conway ended with a superb 152 not out from 121 balls and Ravindra surely cemented his place in the team for the rest of the tournament with an undefeated 123 from 96. A great start for the 2019 finalists, but much to think about for the 2019 winners.
Result
New Zealand 283 for 1 (Conway 152 not out, Ravindra 123 not out) beat England 282 for 9 (Root 77, Buttler 43, Bairstow 33, Henry 3 for 48, Santer 2 for 37) by 9 wickets.
