The Cricket World Cup opened on Thursday with New Zealand gaining a measure of revenge for how the last one ended four years ago.
The rematch of the extraordinary 2019 final got a very different result as the Blacks Caps powered to a nine-wicket thrashing of England, whose title defence is off to an alarming start.
England, without star batter Ben Stokes because of a hip injury, was put into bat and posted 282-9 — a score that always seemed well below par at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
That’s how it proved as New Zealand raced to their target in just 36.2 overs, with Devon Conway (152 not out) and Rachin Ravindra (123 not out) putting on a virtually chanceless second-wicket stand of 273 to help the team to 283-1.
The chase was achieved without captain Kane Williamson, who still has yet to recover from a knee injury.
Conway's 83-ball hundred was the Black Caps' fastest at a World Cup — but only until the 23-year-old all-rounder Ravindra went quicker, off 82 balls, to also become New Zealand's youngest century-maker.
Joe Root top-scored with 77 for England, which at least made some history after all batters scored double figures. It’s the first time that has happened in the history of ODIs, totalling 4,658 matches.
There was a sparse crowd for the start of the World Cup, though the cavernous 134,000-seater stadium was slightly fuller by the time the one-sided match ended.
An unbeaten 273-run stand that has batted and battered England, the defending champions. They lost the previous World Cup on boundary count, Conway and Ravindra launched a stellar attack that they made a mockery of the boundaries.
Nobody expected England to look this clueless. But Ravindra and Conway just tore the bowlers apart. Chris Woakes leaked runs with the new ball, while Sam Curran began with two maiden overs which also had a wicket.
Mark Wood bowled 150+ but he travelled 200+ to the boundary. Adil Rashid, Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone.. who have you got, bring them on said both the left-handers and put on a record stand.
Kane Williamson's injury presented Ravindra the chance at No. 3 and he's won a lot of hearts. Conway came into this comp with not-so-great form, but he looked flawless. Those front foot and back foot punch-drives, pulls, cuts. It was a treat to watch. A depleted New Zealand side has smashed England.
