New Zealand stunned defending champions England in the opening match of the 2023 Cricket World Cup, thanks to a record-breaking partnership between Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra.
The Black Caps chased down England’s total of 282 for 9 with nine wickets in hand and 13.4 overs to spare, thanks to an unbeaten 273-run partnership between Conway and Ravindra.
Conway finished on 152 not out, while Ravindra scored 123 not out. It was the highest partnership for any wicket in a Cricket World Cup match, and it was also the highest partnership for New Zealand in any ODI match.
New Zealand’s victory was a stunning result, as England were the favorites to win the match. England had a strong batting lineup, and they had also won the previous two World Cups.
However, New Zealand were the better team on the day. They bowled well to restrict England to a score of 282 for 9, and they then batted superbly to chase down the target.
The Match Unfolded
England won the toss and elected to bat first. They got off to a good start, with Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow putting on a 70-run partnership for the first wicket.
However, Roy was dismissed for 30, and Bairstow was dismissed for 43. England then lost a few more wickets in quick succession, and they were reduced to 128 for 5.
However, Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler came together to rebuild the innings. They put on a 110-run partnership for the sixth wicket, which helped England to recover.
Stokes was eventually dismissed for 77, and Buttler was dismissed for 43. England then lost a few more wickets in quick succession, and they were bowled out for 282 for 9.
New Zealand got off to a good start in their chase, with Conway and Will Young putting on a 50-run partnership for the first wicket. However, Young was dismissed for 21, and New Zealand were reduced to 50 for 1.
Conway and Ravindra then came together to put on a record-breaking partnership for the second wicket. They batted superbly, and they put England’s bowlers to the sword.
Conway finished on 152 not out, while Ravindra scored 123 not out. New Zealand chased down the target with nine wickets in hand and 13.4 overs to spare.
Key Moments in the Match
There were a few key moments in the match that turned the game in New Zealand’s favor.
- The dismissals of Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow: England got off to a good start, but they lost the wickets of Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow in quick succession. This setback put England on the back foot, and they never really recovered.
- The partnership between Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler: England were in a lot of trouble at 128 for 5, but Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler came together to rebuild the innings. They put on a 110-run partnership for the sixth wicket, which helped England to recover.
- The partnership between Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra: New Zealand lost an early wicket in their chase, but Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra came together to put on a record-breaking partnership for the second wicket. They batted superbly, and they put England’s bowlers to the sword.
Conclusion
New Zealand’s victory over England was a stunning result. It was a victory that was built on a team effort, with both the bowlers and the batsmen performing well.
New Zealand will be looking to build on this momentum and challenge for the title in the 2023 Cricket World Cup. They have a strong team, and they will be confident of their chances.
Additional Analysis
New Zealand’s victory over England was a significant one, for a number of reasons.
- It was a victory over the defending champions. England are the two-time defending champions, and they are one of the strongest teams in the world. New Zealand’s victory over England shows that they are capable of beating the best teams in the world.
- It was a victory in the opening match of the tournament. The opening match of a World Cup is always a special occasion, and it is important to get off to a winning start. New Zealand’s victory over England will give them a lot of confidence for the rest of the tournament.