Ahmedabad: New Zealand brilliant play in the first match of ICC men’s World Cup 2023 resulted in a historic defeat to England by nine wickets which included magnificent centuries of Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conwoy here at Narendra Modi cricket stadium on Thursday.
Kivi team achieved the target set by the UK 283 runs on the second ball of the 37th over while losing only a single wicket.
Defeated by the barest of margins in the 2019 final, New Zealand crush reigning champions England in the 2023 World Cup opener!https://t.co/Bl1Erv1Med | #ENGvNZ | #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/OkX9S2g4cY
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) October 5, 2023
New Zealand opener Devon Conway scored first ton of the ICC men’s World Cup 2023 against England while chasing the target of 283 runs.
Devon Conway brilliant 100 runs included 13 fours and two sixes with a disastrous strike rate of 121.83. Moreover he remained unbeaten scoring 152 runs.
150 up for Devon Conway!
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) October 5, 2023
New Zealand's victory is in sight!#ENGvNZ | #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/Km6LTkiyY2
Another batter of New Zealand Rachin Ravindra made marvelous century. While it will be first match of the World Cup 2023 that two centuries have made by batters of one single team.
Rachin Ravindra, who had come one down scored his ton in 82 balls which include Nine fours and 4 sixes.
He made the ton with tremendous strike rate of 121.95. He also remained invincible like his partner and scored 123 runs.
New Zealand's youngest men's ODI World Cup centurion, at 23 years and 321 days old ✨
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) October 5, 2023
Rachin Ravindra, remember the name 🙌#ENGvNZ #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/FVNiUOoarG
Earlier, defending champion England had set a handsome target of 283 to New Zealand.
New Zealand opted to field first after winning the toss while they proved they were right in their decision
as four of the UK batters bowled out at 118 runs.
Joe Root scored the first half-century of the World Cup and he also remained the top scorer from Kivi’s side.
The partnership between skipper Jos Buttler and Joe Root played a vital role in cementing the handsome target of 282 runs.
Whereas others were prominent batters from England Skipper Jos Buttler 43, Johnny Bairstow 33 runs, Liam Livingstone 20, Harry Brook 25, David Maland 14.
From the New Zealand side Matt Henry was the highest wicket-taker in the match taking 3 wickets, Micthel Satner, and Glenn Phillips got two wickets each while Rachin Ravendra and Trent Boult took one wicket each.
