England thrashed by New Zealand in Cricket World Cup opener

Black Caps stun holders in nine-wicket victory after centuries from Conway and Ravindra

New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra and teammate Devon Conway complete the winning run during the ICC Cricket World Cup opening match between England and New Zealand in Ahmedabad, India, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023. (AP Photo / Rafiq Maqbool)Show less

England’s World Cup defence began with a punishing nine-wicket defeat in Ahmedabad as New Zealand helped themselves to a slice of revenge four years in the making.

Organisers scheduled a repeat of the 2019 final to kick off this year’s tournament, but rather than a nail-biter to match the tension of that Lord’s classic, they had to settle for a thoroughly one-sided affair.

England needed a super over and a boundary countback to get their hands on the trophy last time around, but two majestic hundreds from Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra meant the Black Caps romped home in the rerun with almost 14 overs to spare.

Conway finished 152 not out while his Wellington teammate Ravindra reeled off an unbeaten 123 – more than double his previous ODI best.

The absence of Ben Stokes with a hip injury robbed the reigning champions of some middle-order firepower but their score of 282 for nine was nowhere near enough to constrain an outstanding Kiwi chase.

Where England relied on a composed innings of 77 from Joe Root, who managed four boundaries and a six while a series of unforced errors unfolded around him, Conway and Ravindra cut loose under lights to post a remarkable stand of 273.

The pair came together in the second over after Sam Curran strangled Will Young down leg for a golden duck and they proceeded to pile on 30 fours and eight sixes in a major statement of intent.

England, meanwhile, were chaotic with the bat, lethargic with the ball and sloppy in the field.

Put in to bat first they relied on Root to spare the blushes of his misfiring top-order teammates.

Dawid Malan was first to go for a scratchy 14, caught behind flashing hard at the impressive Matt Henry.

Jonny Bairstow (33) enjoyed a smoother start – including a flicked six off Trent Boult from the second ball of the day – but he offered a tame catch off Mitchell Santner just as he looked to take control.

Harry Brook, deputising for Stokes, clattered two fours and a six off Ravindra, then lifted the next one straight down Conway’s throat at deep midwicket.

When Moeen Ali lost his off stump hacking across the line at Glenn Phillips, England had slipped to 118 for four, but a stand of 70 between Root and Buttler (43) offered some stability.

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  New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra and teammate Devon Conway complete the winning run to beat England in the Cricket World Cup opening match in Ahmedabad on Thursday. AP

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  New Zealand's Devon Conway celebrates after scoring 150 runs against England. AP

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  New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra celebrates with Devon Conway after reaching his century against England. Reuters

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  Devon Conway of New Zealand hits out. Getty

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  New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra in action. Reuters

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  New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra celebrates with Devon Conway after reaching his half century. Reuters

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  New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra sways to avoid a short ball. AP

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  Sam Curran of England celebrates the wicket of Will Young of New Zealand. Getty

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  New Zealand's Glenn Phillips, right, celebrates the dismissal of England's Joe Root. AP

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  Joe Root of England is bowled by Glenn Phillips of New Zealand. Getty

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  England's Joe Root is bowled out. AP

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  England's captain Jos Butler, right, congratulates teammate Joe Root on reaching his half century. AP

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  England's Joe Root drives. Reuters

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  New Zealand's Matt Henry celebrates after taking the wicket of England's Jos Buttler, caught by Tom Latham. Reuters

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  England's Jonny Bairstow is bowled out by New Zealand's Glenn Phillips. Reuters

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  England's Jonny Bairstow ducks to avoid a bouncer. AP

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  England's Harry Brook plays a shot. AP

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  Rachin Ravindra of New Zealand celebrates the wicket of Harry Brook of England. Getty

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  England's Liam Livingstone tries to evade a bouncer. AP

Root departed in the 42nd over, nutmegging and yorking himself in one swift movement as he tried to reverse sweep Phillips and England's tail mustered little late resistance from there onwards.

Player of the match Ravindra told Sky Sports: “Sometimes it’s a little unbelievable. The boys bowled and fielded really well to restrict them to 280 and I was lucky enough to have Devon out there showing me how to do it, which was pretty cool.

“The surface was very good, lovely to bat on.”

New Zealand captain Latham said: "A fantastic performance. It was a brilliant partnership between Devon and Rachin but going back to our bowlers, they did a fantastic job to set us up.

"We're super proud of Rachin, batting at three for the first time in an ODI, and he played beautifully."

England captain Buttler insisted his side would not too be despondent.

Buttler told Sky Sports: “We were very much outplayed by New Zealand and it’s a tough defeat to take. But it’s still one loss at what is the start of a long tournament.

“We won’t read too much into it. We won’t get too down on ourselves as much as we wouldn’t get too high if we were on the other end.

“We’ll keep being positive and playing our way."