England v New Zealand LIVE: Result and reaction from Cricket World Cup 2023 opener as Kiwis win by nine wickets
England take on New Zealand in the Cricket World Cup opener at the 132,000-seater Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad
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Your support makes all the difference.England’s World Cup defence began with a punishing nine-wicket defeat in Ahmedabad as New Zealand helped themselves to a slice of revenge four years in the making.
Organisers scheduled a repeat of the 2019 final to kick off this year’s tournament, but rather than a nail-biter to match the tension of that Lord’s classic, they had to settle for a thoroughly one-sided affair.
England needed a super over and a boundary countback to get their hands on the trophy last time around, but two majestic hundreds from Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra meant the Black Caps romped home in the rerun with almost 14 overs to spare.
Conway finished 152 not out while his Wellington team-mate Ravindra reeled off an unbeaten 123 - more than double his previous ODI best.
The absence of Ben Stokes with a hip injury robbed the reigning champions of some middle-order firepower but their score of 282 for nine was nowhere near enough to constrain an outstanding Kiwi chase.
Follow the latest news and updates from England vs New Zealand below and get the latest match odds and tips here.
New Zealand 130-1 (16), Conway 68, Ravindra 61, Ali 0-28 (4) need 153 to win
Ali has been able to bowl slightly tighter from his fourth over, the first five deliveries going for just singles, and the last ball of the delivery has gone for 4.
New Zealand 121-1 (15) Conway 62, Ravindra 58, Rashid 0-18 (2) need 162 to win
Neither batter has shown any signs of letting up, and Conway has hammered another boundary back down the ground past Rashid for 4.
This blistering start has given New Zealand a strong platform, allowing them breathing room and more than enough time to chase through what is probably a below-par total.
These overs are not really getting less expensive, and anything with a bit more width or too short or full is just being punished.
New Zealand 111-1 (14) Conway 53, Ravindra 57, Ali 0-19 (3) need 172 to win
This third over from Ali has been a bit tighter, but New Zealand have played better so far and Ravindra and Conway have been unbelievable here.
To think that Kane Williamson is still to come into this side as well...
Conway 50! New Zealand 107-1 (13), Conway 51, Ravindra 54 Rashid 0-8 (1)
We will now see the first introduction of Adil Rashid, Buttler has almost had his hand forced, he has to try something.
Conway brings up his own half-century with a streaky edge to the boundary.
Ravindra 50! New Zealand 99-1 (12) Conway 45, Ravindra 53, Ali 0-15 (2) need 184 runs to win
Ali will bowl his second, but after the powerplay England are allowed more cover and four players out of the ring.
Ravindra has hit a huge six to bring up his 50 on World Cup debut, it was a bit fuller but what an innings already from the 23-year-old.
New Zealand 92-1 (11) Conway 44, Ravindra 47, Wood 0-37 (3)
Wood is back and Conway has stroked the first ball straight back past the bowler for 4.
Five times in the first 11 overs New Zealand have got a boundary off the first ball. There’s a bouncer that forces Conway into a late duck, and a welcome dot ball for England.
The extra pace of Wood just takes a flick from Conway over Rashid on the boundary, with less pace it would have gone straight to the fielder, it was not in control, but he has six more runs.
New Zealand 81-1 (10), Conway 33, Ravindra 47, Ali 0-8 (1) need 202 runs to win
It’s still inside the powerplay but they have turned to Moeen Ali to try and find a breakthrough, just the two fielders allowed outside the ring, and two left-handers at the crease.
There’s a brilliant piece of fielding from Livingstone on the rope to prevent that also going for a boundary, a one-handed flick to stop another four.
But it does not seem to have held Ravindra back and the next one is dispatched for six - his second of the innings.
New Zealand 73-1 (9) Conway 22, Ravindra 39, Wood 0-27 (2) need 210 runs to win
Wood is sent to the boundary by a cover drive from Conway to start his over, and the 9th of the innings.
England do not look like they have an answer for this onslaught. Wood has not bowled a ball in competitive matches since the fifth Ashes Test in July.
He is hitting some big numbers here in terms of pace but it is the runs that will be a more pressing concern for England.
They’ve gone for the short-ball plan to try and bounce out the batters, and almost find a reward as one just falls over Bairstow’s head.
But Wood goes full and it’s another boundary.
New Zealand 63-1 (8), Conway 24, Ravindra 38, Curran 1-19 (4) need 220 runs to win
Curran has gone for a boundary now here at the start of his fourth over, Buttler is looking troubled.
The new ball is coming on nicely and there is no hint of additional movement under the lights.
Ravindra has another hitting down the ground, it’s a 50 partnership and Ravindra is 38 from just 23 deliveries.
New Zealand 54-1 (7), Conway 19, Ravindra 34, Wood 0-17 (1) (need 229 to win)
There is a change, Woakes struggled through his three overs, but the treatment of Mark Wood is no different and his first ball is dispatched off the pads to the boundary for four.
Wood’s first ball was 149kph or 92.5mph, and he has been less expensive than Woakes, but at that pace with a quick outfield, everything just has to be perfect.
And a first six of the innings, 50 is up, it’s all going wrong for England but what a great shot from Ravindra to send Wood’s delivery over the boundary.
17 from that over, and England are in trouble.
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