In an impressive display of batting prowess, both Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell notched unbeaten centuries as New Zealand comfortably sailed to an eight-wicket victory over England during the first one-day international in Cardiff last Friday.
Following an intense four-match T20I series that culminated with a 2-2 tie, New Zealand delivered a crushing blow to the home team, England, in the inaugural ODI contested at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, last Friday.
The Black Caps, tasked with chasing down 292 runs for victory, successfully reached 297-2 with 26 balls to spare, securing a 1-0 lead in the four-match series.
The Black Caps impressively pursued England’s target of 291 runs, losing only two wickets in the process. Devon Conway (111 not out) and Daryl Mitchell (118 not out) were the stars for New Zealand, driving their team to an eight-wicket success. Their magnificent combination of 180 runs for the third wicket left England trying to make a breakthrough.
It wasn’t until the 11th over that England managed to gain a breakthrough when leg-spinner Adil Rashid bowled Will Young with his very first ball, leaving New Zealand at 61-1. Rashid briefly left the field due to cramping, and upon his return, Mitchell welcomed him with a six and a four off straight deliveries.
Conway, the left-hander, demonstrated his batting skills by completing his fourth ODI century, taking 115 balls and including 13 boundaries. Mitchell, on the other hand, went on to hit Rashid for 16 runs off three balls – two sixes sandwiched between a four – as he approached his century in 84 balls.
Conway finished up the match in style with a straight six off Liam Livingstone, sealing New Zealand’s third successive white-ball victory over England on this tour, following a 2-2 draw in the Twenty20 series.
Buttler and the returning Ben Stokes (52) created a dangerous fourth-wicket stand of 88 runs after England lost the toss. Livingstone’s aggressive 52 from 40 balls produced a late burst, following opener Dawid Malan’s 54. Former all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, now part of the England coaching staff as a mentor, joined the team.
Harry Brook was given an opportunity to enhance his World Cup prospects by opening with Malan, due to injuries to Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow. However, Brook, who was excluded from the original squad for next month’s World Cup in India, could only manage 25 runs. It was Malan who dominated the opening stand of 80 runs before being knocked off his pads for 54 by Ravindra.
Buttler, meanwhile, scored a fifty in just 48 balls. Stokes, playing his first ODI since reversing his retirement from the format ahead of the World Cup, scored his milestone with a six over midwicket off Ravindra, only to be caught next ball when he smashed the spinner to cover.
