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The defending champions got a taste of their own medicine from New Zealand top-order batters Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra. The twin centuries helped New Zealand make a statement with a nine-wicket win with 82 balls to spare in the World Cup 2023 opener. In the process, they also avenged the World Cup 2019 final defeat which left them disheartened.
New Zealand’s stand-in captain Tom Latham won the toss and decided to field first. The decision was criticised in the commentary box but it paid off for them. Matt Henry started off with the wicket of Dawid Malan in the eighth over. Jonny Bairstow hit a few boundaries but he fell to Mitchell Santner in the 13th over as he got caught at long-off. He scored 33 runs from 35 balls. Harry Brook took on Ravindra and hit him for two fours and a six before getting dismissed for a 16-ball 25.
Part-timer Glenn Phillips inflicted damage straightaway as Moeen Ali got bowled. Skipper Jos Buttler and Root did some damage control but kept the scoring rate up as well. Root reached his half-century from 57 balls. Buttler was nearing his half-century but Henry came back into the attack to break the partnership. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 43 runs from 42 balls. Liam Livingstone looked comfortable at the crease but Trent Boult troubled him and got his wicket with the knuckle ball. He scored 20 runs from 22 balls.
Root was approaching his century. Phillips was brought back into the attack and once again he provided the big wicket. Root got bowled for 86-ball 77. Chris Woakes and Sam Curran departed after reaching double digits. England were 252/9 in the 46th over. In the slog overs, Adil Rashid and Mark Wood were cautious as England posted 282/9. Rashid also hit a six off the final over bowled by James Neesham.
In the run chase, Conway cleared his intentions with a boundary off the first ball. But Curran got the wicket of Will Young off the first ball he bowled. After Young’s golden duck, Ravindra walked out to bat at no.3 in Kane Williamson’s absence. Ravindra hit back-to-back fours against Woakes to release the pressure. Ravindra and Conway took on Mark Wood early on to disrupt his line and length. After the first powerplay overs, New Zealand had 81/1 on the board.
Ravindra reached his half-century on his World Cup debut with a six. He took just 36 deliveries to reach the milestone. Conway was not far behind and reached his half-century from 36 balls as well. The onslaught continued and Buttler's tricks could not do the damage. In the 27th over, Conway reached his century from 83 balls. In the 31st over, Ravindra reached his century from just 82 balls. It is the fastest century for New Zealand in the World Cup.
The scoring rate only increased after the two batters reached three figures. Curran felt the brunt of it in the 35th over where he leaked 20 runs including two fours and a six. In the 36th over, Conway hit Livingstone for three fours to reach his 150 from 120 balls. New Zealand chased down the target with 82 balls to spare. Ravindra and Conway shared a 273-run partnership, the highest against England for any wicket. It is the highest partnership for New Zealand in the World Cup and also the highest on Indian soil in World Cup event. Conway scored 152 runs from 121 balls including 19 fours and three sixes. On the other end, Ravindra scored 123 runs from 96 balls including 11 fours and five sixes.
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