England vs New Zealand: ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 – as it happened

 England vs New Zealand: ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 – as it happened

This blog is now closed. Thanks for joining us. These were the updates from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 opening match between England and Sri Lanka on October 5, 2023.

• New Zealand defeated reigning champions England by nine wickets following an all-round performance in the opening match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India.

• Devon Conway scored 152 not out and youngster Rachin Ravindra made an unbeaten 123 as New Zealand chased 283 with 82 balls to spare. Matt Henry picked up three wickets for the Black Caps.

• England were underwhelming with the bat, with only Jos Buttler stepping up, while their bowlers also struggled against a formidable New Zealand attack.

• The World Cup will run for more than six weeks and will see 10 teams compete for cricket’s most coveted trophy.

‘Unbelievable’ performance from youngster Ravindra

Rachin Ravindra has been named the player of the match for his unbeaten 123.

Speaking to broadcaster Star Sports, the 23-year-old said: “Sometimes it’s unbelievable at times, but great to have a great day out. The bowlers bowled well and were lucky enough to have Devon [Conway] out there. I spent a lot of time with Dev and we are very, very close mates. I was a little more comfortable and I have a lot of chat with Dev – being able to do that in the middle is cool.”

No Williamson, no problem for New Zealand

New Zealand were without their usual captain Williamson, as well as Southee, Ferguson and Bracewell. Yet, that did not seem to trouble the Black Caps as they hammered England, outclassing them with both the bat and the ball.

The victory will help boost New Zealand’s net run-rate, which might come handy in the latter stages of the tournament.

New Zealand deliver all-round performance for huge win

New Zealand begin their 2023 World Cup campaign with a massive victory against the reigning champions, England.

New Zealand’s bowlers did well to restrict England to under 300, as Henry picked up three wickets and Santner and Phillips bagged two apiece. Later, Conway (152 not out) and Ravindra (123 not out) helped them chase 283 with little trouble.

England, on the other hand, underperformed with the bat as only captain Buttler stepped up. In the second innings, their bowlers struggled against New Zealand’s formidable batters.

The victory will provide a big confidence boost to New Zealand, who lost the 2019 final to England on the account of boundaries.

New Zealand win by nine wickets!

New Zealand win the 2023 World Cup opener against reigning champions England by nine wickets! A massive victory for the Black Caps, clinched with 82 balls to spare.

ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 matchup between England and New Zealand as it transpired

New Zealand chose to bowl after winning the toss.

batting for England.

With the loss of two early wickets, England got off to a sluggish start. With a partnership of 100 runs, Joe Root and Dawid Malan managed to right the ship. England finally finished on 282/9 thanks to a century from Root.

inning for New Zealand:

Devon Conway's fifty helped New Zealand get off to a strong start. New Zealand finally missed their mark by 9 wickets as a result of England's bowlers consistently taking wickets.

Recap of the game:

The show's standout performers were England's bowlers, who consistently took wickets to put New Zealand under pressure. The batters for England also did well, with Joe Root notching a Dawid Malan scored a half-century and added a century.

Major events:

The effort that won the game was Joe Root's century. He served as England's batting captain and contributed to their team's competitive total.

The bowlers for England consistently took out New Zealand to keep them on their toes. Trent Boult, who claimed four wickets, was the best bowler.

The only encouraging performance for New Zealand's batters was Devon Conway's half-century. He couldn't turn his start into a century, though, as New Zealand ultimately fell short of their goal.

Conclusion:

England deservedly prevailed in the game. They performed better than New Zealand in every regard, and they are convinced that they can win the competition.

MATCH SUMMARY

36 overs. New Zealand 281-1

Conway hits Livingstone for three fours, bringing up his 150! The New Zealand opener has been the top scorer for the Black Caps in this opening match.

New Zealand need two runs to win the game.

35 overs. New Zealand 265-1

Conway is in a hurry to wrap up this match. He hits Curran for a six and a four off the first two balls and then ends the over with another four. Ruthless from the New Zealand opener!

New Zealand need 18 runs to win this game.

34 overs. New Zealand 245-1

Moeen Ali concedes 11 runs from the over as Rachin Ravindra hits a six. New Zealand need 38 runs to seal the victory. It’s time for a short break for drinks!

33 overs. New Zealand 234-1

Ravindra and Conway are guiding New Zealand to a huge win this evening in Ahmedabad. They score eight runs from the over by Curran.

Former West Indies international Ian Bishop, like the rest of us, has been enjoying the pair’s performance.

32 overs. New Zealand 226-1

Moeen concedes only four runs from the over. New Zealand need 57 runs from 18 overs to beat the reigning champions.

31 overs. New Zealand 222-1

Ravindra brings up his maiden ODI century! It has been a perfect evening for the 23-year-old, who is making his World Cup debut.

New Zealand score 11 runs from the over by Livingstone.

30 overs. New Zealand 211-1

Moeen concedes only two runs from the over. Conway and Ravindra bring up their 200-run partnership. What a display from these two so far this evening.

29 overs. New Zealand 209-1

Livingstone concedes only one run from the over. Ravindra and Conway’s partnership is one run away from hitting 200.

28 overs. New Zealand 208-1

Ravindra hits Moeen for a four off the first ball as he gets closer to his century. The 23-year-old, who is making his World Cup debut, is three runs away from 100.

New Zealand need 75 runs from 22 overs to win the match.

27 overs. New Zealand 200-1

Conway brings up his 100! What a way to start your World Cup campaign!

Meanwhile, his teammate Ravindra is not too far from his century either. He’s on 91.

New Zealand need 83 runs from 23 overs to win.

26 overs. New Zealand 192-1

New Zealand score five runs from the 26th over by Rashid, as Conway moves to 99.

The 2019 finalists need 91 runs from 24 overs.

25 overs. New Zealand 187-1

Conway hits Wood a four over midwicket, reaching 98. He is closing in on his fifth ODI century.

New Zealand take nine runs from the over. They need 96 runs from 25 overs.

24 overs. New Zealand 178-1

Rashid comes on for his sixth over, conceding only two runs from it.

Meanwhile, Conway is close to reaching a century, currently on 92.

23 overs. New Zealand 176-1

England captain Buttler brings on Woakes, and Ravindra hits him for a six with great flair. The 23-year-old, making his World Cup debut, has been sensational this evening, entertaining the crowd with fours and sixes.

22 overs. New Zealand 168-1

New Zealand have been solid in their chase, thanks to Conway and Ravindra’s excellent partnership. They score six runs from the 22nd over, bowled by Rashid.

21 overs. New Zealand 162-1

Conway continues to impress with his shots, this time sending the ball straight for a four. New Zealand score eight runs from the over by Woakes.

The Black Caps, the 2019 finalists, need 121 runs from 29 overs to win this match.

20 overs. New Zealand 154-1

Conway smashes Rashid for a huge six off the final ball as New Zealand score nine runs from the over. He lifts the ball over deep midwicket.

New Zealand need 129 runs from 30 overs to win this World Cup opener.

19 overs. New Zealand 145-1

Woakes returns for the 19th over, conceding only two runs from it.

Conway is on 74 runs while Ravindra is on 70. New Zealand need 138 runs from 31 overs to win.

18 overs. New Zealand 143-1

We are back after a short break for drinks, and it’s Moeen who returns with the ball.

England appeal for an LBW dismissal against Conway, but the umpire is unimpressed. They seek a review and lose it as the replay shows there was no inside edge, and the ball struck a stump outside off.

17 overs. New Zealand 138-1

Ravindra, New Zealand’s 23-year-old batsman, starts Rashid’s over with a four.

New Zealand’s batters take eight runs from the over, and it’s time for a drinks break.

16 overs. New Zealand 130-1

New Zealand make nine runs from the over by Moeen as Ravindra hits a four off the final ball.

The Black Caps need 153 runs from 34 overs to win this World Cup opener.

15 overs. New Zealand 121-1

England spinner Rashid leaks 10 runs from the over, thanks to two fours from Conway. New Zealand are enjoying their chase, averaging about eight runs per over.

14 overs. New Zealand 111-1

Moeen bowls the 14th over, conceding four runs from it.

Meanwhile, Conway and Ravindra bring up their phenomenal 100-run partnership off 77 balls.

14 overs. New Zealand 111-1

Moeen bowls the 14th over, conceding four runs from it.

Meanwhile, Conway and Ravindra bring up their phenomenal 100-run partnership off 77 balls.

12 overs. New Zealand 99-1

Ravindra brings up his 50 with a stunning six. What an achievement for him on his World Cup debut.

Moeen ends the 12th over after conceding seven runs.

11 overs. New Zealand 92-1

Boundaries continue to flow for New Zealand as Conway hits Wood for a four off the first ball.

Rashid tries to lay his hands on the ball but it flies over the boundary, as Conway bags a six off the third ball.

Conway is also edging closer to his half-century. He is on 44, while Ravindra is on 47.

10 overs. New Zealand 81-1

Defending champions England introduce spin for the first time as Moeen bowls the 10th over.

Ravindra hits Moeen for his second six of the innings, sending the ball up and over midwicket. The New Zealand batter is three runs away from his half-century.

10 overs. New Zealand 81-1

Defending champions England introduce spin for the first time as Moeen bowls the 10th over.

Ravindra hits Moeen for his second six of the innings, sending the ball up and over midwicket. The New Zealand batter is three runs away from his half-century.

Eight overs. New Zealand 63-1

It’s raining boundaries at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Conway hits Curran for a four off the first ball before Ravindra adds another. The duo bring up their 50-run partnership.

Nine runs from that over for New Zealand.

Seven overs. New Zealand 54-1

After leaking too many runs in his three overs, Woakes is replaced by Wood.

But that seems to be no issue for New Zealand as Conway hits a four off the first ball before Ravindra hooks away the ball for a six and then hits a four.

Seventeen runs from that over. A huge one for the Black Caps.

Six overs. New Zealand 37-1

The economical Curran concedes 10 runs from his third over after consecutive maiden overs.

Ravindra finds a boundary off the final ball, hitting it between point and cover

Despite losing Young early, New Zealand have made a good start, thanks to Conway and Ravindra.

Five overs. New Zealand 27-1

Time for Woakes again and this time he works on his length, going shorter.

Ravindra, though, finds the gap on the fourth ball and hits Woakes for a boundary. He hits the ball into the air to the right of cover point.

Woakes concedes another four off the final ball.

Four overs. New Zealand 19-1

Curran makes an appeal for an LBW dismissal against Conway, but the umpire does not look convinced.

England do not opt for a review. Later, the replay shows the ball pitched in line and would have clipped the bails.

Curran delivers yet another maiden over.

Three overs. New Zealand 19-1

Woakes, who conceded 10 runs in the first over, returns with the ball for the third over.

Conway survives a run-out on the second ball as replays show a direct hit from Curran could have dismissed the New Zealand opener.

Meanwhile, Ravindra gets off the mark, hitting back-to-back boundaries.

Woakes concedes nine runs in the over. Another costly over from the pacer!

Two overs. New Zealand 10-1

Left-hander Ravindra is the new batter for New Zealand. He is sent up in the batting order in the absence of their usual captain Williamson, who is recovering from an injury.

1.1 overs. New Zealand 10-1, Young out!

Curran strikes with the first ball of the over, dismissing Young for a duck! The New Zealand opener is caught behind the stumps by England skipper Buttler.

One over. New Zealand 10-0

New Zealand’s chase of 283 begins as Conway and Young open the batting for the 2019 finalists.

Conway hits England pacer Woakes for a four off the first ball, driving the ball away between point and cover.

He hits another boundary, this time off the fifth ball, sending it through the covers once again.

Perfect start for New Zealand!

England’s batters set a record

As we wait for the second innings to start, here’s an interesting piece of trivia for you: this is the first time in ODI history that all 11 players in the lineup have reached double figures with the bat.

New Zealand keep dangerous England at bay

England got off to a flying start courtesy of Bairstow, but were pulled back by Henry’s probing and tidy spell of fast bowling.

It was then down to New Zealand’s band of part-time bowlers and left-arm spinners to keep England in check and they did it to near perfection.

Stand-in captain Latham rotated his limited resources well in the absence of Williamson, Southee and Ferguson.

England’s Root top-scored with a measured 77 from 86 balls and was joined by a freer-scoring Buttler who got 43 runs from 42 balls.

New Zealand will fancy their chances of getting their tournament under way with a win as they have a strong batting lineup that goes all the way down to number nine.

The match resumes in about 40 minutes.

Manasi Pathak will take you through the rest of the tournament opener.

New Zealand ‘pleased’ with England total

Phillips says he’s “very pleased” with England’s total.

“Anything under 300 is good on this very fast outfield,” he tells the host broadcasters.

Part-timers shine for New Zealand

New Zealand seem pleased with their effort with the ball.

They are missing Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson and have had to rely on part-time bowlers.

50 overs. England 282-9

Neesham comes on to finish the innings and gets away with a short and wide delivery first up.

His second ball is slow and wide past Rashid’s legs.

He rebowls it and presents a slower one in the slot. Rashid dispatches it for a six over deep midwicket.

Last four deliveries yield singles.

Pre-match form

Both teams are in fairly good form ahead of the opener.

England head into the tournament on the back of two series wins, one of which came against New Zealand.

Meanwhile, the Kiwis also start the World Cup with a series win in the subcontinent against India’s neighbours Bangladesh.

England: W W W W W

New Zealand: W W L L L

Empty cauldron in Modi’s home state

The match will get under way in about 15 minutes but the Narendra Modi Stadium looks fairly empty from the live pictures.

Lots of empty saffron seats in the 130,000-seater cauldron in Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state.

 

Team news

This is how both teams look like going into the first match.

Harry Brook comes in for Stokes.

England: Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c, wk), Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, Chris Woakes, Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood.

Rachin Ravindra, the newest all-round sensation from New Zealand, comes in at Williamson’s one-down position.

New Zealand: Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (c, wk), Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Trent Boult

New Zealand decide to bowl first

The two captains are out on the pitch for the toss with match referee Javagal Srinath.

Jos Buttler flips the coin and Tom Latham calls heads. And he’s right!

New Zealand have won the toss and decided to bowl first.

Lockie Ferguson is down with a niggle as well!

Injury will keep Ben Stokes out, confirms Buttler.

Head to head record

No ODI match between England and New Zealand can come close to beating the drama of the 2019 Cricket World Cup final, but they have met on 95 occasions in the ODI format, and England are ahead on the wins tally by one.

England have 45 wins compared with New Zealand’s 44, four matches did not yield a result and two were tied – one being the 2019 final, which was decided by a tiebreaker of boundaries scored.

 Jason Roy and teammates celebrate the World Cup victory [Andrew Boyers/Action Images via Reuters]

‘Captains’ day’ replaces opening ceremony

Cricket fans have been left wondering why there has been no news of an opening ceremony ahead of the big day in Ahmedabad.

While the International Cricket Council has not confirmed or denied news about an opening ceremony, it said yesterday’s “Captains’ Day” kicked off the World Cup.

Plenty of colours and smiling faces in the photo, though.