ENG against NZ, 1st ODI: New Zealand Wins by an 8-wicket Score thanks to Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell

In the first one-day international in Cardiff on Friday, New Zealand defeated England by an eight-wicket margin thanks to unbroken hundreds from Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell.

The Black Caps, who needed to score 292 runs to win, reached 297-2 with 26 balls left and took a 1-0 series lead.

Conway and Mitchell, the opening batsmen, had an unbroken third-wicket stand of 180 runs in New Zealand’s first ODI match against England since their heartbreaking Super Over defeat in the 2019 World Cup final at Lord’s. Conway was 111 not out and Mitchell was 118 not out.

The teams will also compete against one another in the World Cup’s first game on October 5 in Ahmedabad.

“We thought England’s score was just above par, but the bowlers did well to restrict them on that surface,” Conway remarked at the award ceremony.

“We just knew that if we built those partnerships, it would get us over the line.”

Jos Buttler, the captain of England, scored the most runs for his team on his 33rd birthday, leading them to a total of 291-6 with 72.

With 3-48, left-arm spinner Rachin Ravindra guided a controlled New Zealand assault.

At the midway stage, Buttler observed, “I actually thought we had a pretty good score.”

Credit to them (Conway and Mitchell), it was a great relationship, he said.

He said, “It’s a quick turnaround so we’ll give opportunities and look after guys as well,” in reference to the remaining games in the series.

We also want to play solid cricket, however. We want to win games, and we are aware that we are against a strong opponent.

The breakthrough came for England in the 11th over when leg-spinner Adil Rashid dismissed Will Young with his first delivery, leaving New Zealand 61-1.

When Rashid returned after a short absence due to cramp, Mitchell welcomed him back with a six and a four off consecutive deliveries.

Conway, a left-handed player, reached his fourth ODI century in 115 balls, including 13 fours.

As Mitchell entered the 90s before reaching an 84-ball century, he smashed Rashid for 16 off three balls, two sixes split by a four.

After the Twenty20 series concluded with a tie at 2-2, Conway put an elegant finish to the game with a straight six off Liam Livingstone to give New Zealand their third consecutive white-ball victory against England on this tour.

Buttler expulsions England

After England lost the toss, Buttler and the resuming Ben Stokes (52) established a fourth-wicket partnership of 88 runs.

After opener Dawid Malan scored 54, Livingstone’s quick 52 off 40 balls gave the team late momentum as former all-rounder Andrew Flintoff rejoined the England coaching staff as a consultant.

Following the injuries to Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook was handed another opportunity to further his World Cup hopes after being selected as the opener alongside Malan.

But Brook, who wasn’t included in the preliminary team for the championship defense in India next month, could only muster 25.

Instead, Malan dominated a first-wicket partnership of 80 before being dismissed for 54 by Ravindra, who bowled him off his pads.

Buttler, on the other hand, made a 48-ball fifty.

Stokes reached the milestone with a six over midwicket off Ravindra in his first ODI after reversing his retirement from the format before to the World Cup, but he was caught the very next ball when he smashed the spinner to cover.

On Sunday, Southampton will host Game 3 of the series.