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At Sophia Gardens, Cardiff: England 291-6 in 50 overs (Jos Buttler 72, Dawid Malan 54, Ben Stokes 52, Liam Livingstone 52; Rachin Ravindra 3-48) lost to New Zealand 297-2 in 45.4 overs (Devon Conway 111 not out, Daryl Mitchell 118 no) by eight wickets.
First blood to New Zealand in Cardiff as Ahmedabad looms large in the distance.
The Black Caps defeated England by eight wickets in the opening game of their four-match ODI series at Sophia Gardens overnight (NZ time), as Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell each made sumptuous centuries.
In the first ODI encounter between the two sides since that famous final at Lord’s four years ago, Conway combined with Mitchell to put on an unbroken 180 for the third wicket.
The two teams will also contest the opening game of the 2023 World Cup in India early next month, and New Zealand nabbed a wee early upper hand courtesy of Conway and Mitchell’s dominant third-wicket stand.
Batting first, England’s 291-6 came courtesy of contributions from skipper Jos Buttler (72), opener Dawid Malan (54), back-again Ben Stokes (52) and dangerous hitter Liam Livingstone (52).
But Black Caps opener Conway comfortably guided the visiting side in their pursuit.
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Devon Conway of New Zealand celebrates his century during their ODI win over England at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff.
He got useful assistance initially from Will Young (29) and Henry Nicholls (26) before Mitchell looked assured from the outset, employing his trademark lofted drives as he struck seven sixes and seven fours in making an unbeaten 118 from just 91 balls.
He was dropped by Chris Woakes at short midwicket when bringing up his half-century, a tough chance from a pull shot off legspinner Liam Livingstone.
Conway’s unbeaten 111 was his fourth ODI ton in just 19 appearances, featuring 13 fours and a six which ended the game with more than four overs to spare.
Rachin Ravindara earlier starred with the ball for New Zealand, taking 3-48 from his 10 overs.
The left-arm spinner, who seems likely to take the third spinner’s spot in the World Cup squad, starred in the absence of Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi.
He dismissed Stokes in his ODI comeback, two balls after the pivotal figure of the 2019 final between the two sides had hit him for six to bring up his half-century
Stokes almost perished first ball when hurried up by Ferguson, fencing off a short snorter just over Glenn Phillips at gully
Joe Giddens/AP
England’s David Willey battles with how to deal with New Zealand’s Devon Conway during the first one-day international in Cardiff.
Ravindra had earlier dismissed Malan and Joe Root to have the hosts uncomfortably poised at 101-3 in the 21st over. But they have plenty of depth and firepower and once Stokes established himself, got themselves to a competitive tally.
Buttler’s 72 at No.5 came from 68 balls while Livingstone hit three consecutive sixes off Kyle Jamieson – playing his first ODI since April 2022 as he continues his return from back surgery – in the 43rd over in making 52 from 40.
Harry Brook was promoted to opener for England with Jason Roy out due to a back spasm and Jonny Bairstow rested as he sought to push his case for World Cup selection.
His opening partnership with Malan of 80 in 15 overs was a useful foundation, but his knock of 25 from 41 balls was surprisingly subdued.
Big moment
England had laid the foundations of a potentially imposing tally while taking few risks against an accurate attack.
But Ravindra made the breakthrough by dismissing Malan with the last ball of the 15th over and a lively Lockie Ferguson removed Brook four balls later, meaning England had to regroup.
Best with the bat
Mitchell top-scored as he let loose late to end the game in a hurry, but Conway provided the basis of the victory.
He looked a little scratchy at the start as Young found his timing earlier, but a couple of aggressive blows in the seventh over of NZ’s chase got him going, and he was in control thereafter.
Clive Rose/Getty Images
Rachin Ravindra of New Zealand celebrates taking the wicket of Dawid Malan of England during their ODI in Cardiff.
Best with the ball
New Zealand’s World Cup squad will have already been chosen, but Ravindra still took the opportunity to display his wares before the official naming on Monday.
With the visitors employing just one specialist spinner, the 23-year-old used guile and variation to limit a potent England batting attack.
Big picture
The two sides will meet again three times in the next seven days as they continue to tinker with their line-ups with their World Cup clash in Ahmedabad the chief target.
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