Cricket fans around the globe were in for a spectacle as the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 kicked off with a titanic clash between the England cricket team and the New Zealand national cricket team. Hosted at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 5, the 1st match of the tournament lived up to the hype, delivering drama, domination, and a few surprises.
England, the defending champions, walked onto the field with a reputation to uphold. But what unfolded was a clinical dismantling, orchestrated by a rejuvenated and fearless New Zealand side. In what turned into a lopsided affair, the Kiwis chased down a 283-run target with breathtaking ease, hammering home a message: they were here not just to compete, but to conquer.
England’s Innings: Promise, but Lacked Punch
Opting to bat first, England needed a solid platform. Jonny Bairstow got the innings going with intent but was dismissed after a promising 33. Dawid Malan failed to capitalize on his start, falling for 14, while Joe Root anchored the innings beautifully with a composed 77.
Despite brief fireworks from Harry Brook (25 off 16) and Jos Buttler (43 off 42), England’s middle-order crumbled against disciplined Kiwi bowling. They ended their innings at 282/9 — a total that seemed competitive, but not insurmountable.
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England Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
| Jonny Bairstow | c Mitchell b Santner | 33 | 35 | 4 | 1 | 94.28 |
| Dawid Malan | c †Latham b Henry | 14 | 24 | 2 | 0 | 58.33 |
| Joe Root | b Phillips | 77 | 86 | 4 | 1 | 89.53 |
| Harry Brook | c Conway b Ravindra | 25 | 16 | 4 | 1 | 156.25 |
| Moeen Ali | b Phillips | 11 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 64.70 |
| Jos Buttler (c)† | c †Latham b Henry | 43 | 42 | 2 | 2 | 102.38 |
| Liam Livingstone | c Henry b Boult | 20 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 90.90 |
| Sam Curran | c †Latham b Henry | 14 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 73.68 |
| Chris Woakes | c Young b Santner | 11 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 91.66 |
| Adil Rashid | not out | 15 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 115.38 |
| Mark Wood | not out | 13 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 92.85 |
| Extras | 6 | |||||
| Total | (50 overs, 9 wickets) | 282/9 | 5.64 RR |
Fall of Wickets:
1-40 (Malan), 2-64 (Bairstow), 3-94 (Brook), 4-118 (Moeen), 5-188 (Buttler), 6-221 (Livingstone), 7-229 (Root), 8-250 (Woakes), 9-252 (Curran)
New Zealand’s Bowling Attack: Ruthless and Relentless
Matt Henry was the pick of the bowlers with three key wickets, while Santner and Phillips chipped in with two each. Trent Boult, as expected, kept the pressure high with his trademark economy and early swing.
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New Zealand Bowling Scorecard
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ | 0s | 4s | 6s | WD | NB |
| Trent Boult | 10 | 1 | 48 | 1 | 4.80 | 34 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Matt Henry | 10 | 1 | 48 | 3 | 4.80 | 31 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mitchell Santner | 10 | 0 | 37 | 2 | 3.70 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| James Neesham | 7 | 0 | 56 | 0 | 8.00 | 15 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Rachin Ravindra | 10 | 0 | 76 | 1 | 7.60 | 14 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Glenn Phillips | 3 | 0 | 17 | 2 | 5.66 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
New Zealand’s Response: Dominant, Decisive, Dazzling
Few could have predicted the clinical chase that followed. Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra launched a counterattack that was not only aggressive but also methodical. Conway remained unbeaten on a masterful 152 off 121, smashing 19 boundaries and 3 sixes. Ravindra, playing with the poise of a veteran, struck a blistering 123* from 96 balls.
Their unbeaten 273-run stand sent shockwaves through the cricketing world. It was not just about the runs — it was the authority, the composure, and the sheer flair.
New Zealand Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
| Devon Conway | not out | 152 | 121 | 19 | 3 | 125.61 |
| Will Young | c †Buttler b Curran | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Rachin Ravindra | not out | 123 | 96 | 11 | 5 | 128.12 |
| Extras | 8 | |||||
| Total | (36.2 overs, 1 wicket) | 283/1 | 7.78 RR |
Fall of Wicket:
1-10 (Will Young, 1.1 ov)
England’s Bowling: Ineffective Under Fire
The English bowlers struggled to maintain control. Mark Wood leaked runs, while Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali failed to contain the onslaught. It was clear the Kiwis had read the pitch and their opposition perfectly.
England Bowling Scorecard
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ | 0s | 4s | 6s | WD | NB |
| Chris Woakes | 6 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 7.50 | 18 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Sam Curran | 6 | 2 | 47 | 1 | 7.83 | 17 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Mark Wood | 5 | 0 | 55 | 0 | 11.00 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Moeen Ali | 9.2 | 0 | 60 | 0 | 6.42 | 20 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Adil Rashid | 7 | 0 | 47 | 0 | 6.71 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Liam Livingstone | 3 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 8.00 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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Conclusion
This match wasn’t just a win for New Zealand — it was a bold statement. Beating the defending champions in such dominant fashion, in the World Cup opener, sends a clear message to the rest of the teams. For England, it’s a wake-up call. Their bowling lacked penetration, and the batting never truly exploded.
If the New Zealand national cricket team vs England cricket team match scorecard is anything to go by, we are in for a riveting tournament. New Zealand walks away with points and pride, while England returns to the drawing board.
FAQs About New Zealand National Cricket Team vs England Cricket Team
Q1: Who won the 1st match of the ICC World Cup 2023?
A: New Zealand won convincingly by 9 wickets against England.
Q2: Who was the top scorer in the match?
A: Devon Conway was the top-scorer with an unbeaten 152 runs.
Q3: What was the final score of England in the match?
A: England scored 282/9 in 50 overs.
Q4: How many wickets did Matt Henry take?
A: Matt Henry took 3 wickets for 48 runs.
Q5: What made New Zealand’s chase exceptional?
A: A record-breaking unbeaten 273-run partnership between Conway and Ravindra made the chase look effortless.
