New Zealand have ruthlessly gained some redemption against England by storming to a nine-wicket in the opening match of the 2023 World Cup.
Four years ago, England dramatically edged a super-over to edge out the Black Caps, but Thursday's fixture in Ahmedabad never threatened to produce the same level of competitiveness.
The defending champions could be relevantly content with a total of 282-9 having lost the toss, yet it became obvious that the score was well below-par as Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra put on an astonishing unbeaten 273 off just 211 deliveries for the second wicket as New Zealand won with 82 balls to spare.
With eight matches remaining in a marathon group stage, England have chance to redeem themselves, but their net run-rate has already taken a potentially-pivotal hit.
Each of England's 11 players made double figures with the bat, yet only Joe Root (77) posted a half-century with Jos Buttler (43) the other player to score in excess of 40.
There were plenty of starts during the top and middle order, Jonny Bairstow made 33 from 35, Harry Brook contributed 25 from 16 and Liam Livingstone recorded 20 off 22.
Nevertheless, New Zealand always kept their opponents in check, the biggest partnership being 70 for the fifth wicket between Root and Buttler.
Adil Rashid (15*) and Mark Wood (13*) survived the final 26 balls to put on 30, but the damage had been done, largely through Mitchell Santner (3-37), Glenn Phillips (2-17) and Matt Henry (3-48).
"We may not see a better one" 😍
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) October 5, 2023
Devon Conway gets the first 100 of #CWC23 🙌💯 pic.twitter.com/HztbL2y9uI
England started well in the field, with Sam Curran dismissing Will Young for a first-ball duck, but it only set the stage for Conway and Ravindra to produce one of the World Cup's greatest-ever partnerships when taking into consideration the level of the opposition.
Conway will get the greater share of the headlines, making 152 from 121 with a knock that featured 19 fours and three sixes, but Ravindra became both the youngest player to hit a World Cup hundred for New Zealand, as well as making it in the quickest fashion.
The 23-year-old's ton was brought up in 82 balls and he would go on to make 123 from 96, posting 11 fours and five maximums along the way.
The bowling figures for England made for grim reading, particularly in the case of Wood who conceded 55 runs from five overs, and Buttler's side must bounce back against Afghanistan in their next fixture.
Darren Plant
