England v New Zealand LIVE: Result and reaction from Cricket World Cup 2023 opener as Kiwis win by nine wickets

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.

Cricket World Cup 2023: England vs New Zealand

• England take on New Zealand in the opening match of the Cricket World Cup at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

• Ben Stokes misses World Cup opener with hip injury

• New Zealand win the toss and decide to bowl first

• England score 282-9 from their innings, New Zealand set 283 to win

• Wicket! Conway out for a golden duck! New Zealand 10-1

• Ravindra scores 50! New Zealand 99-1

• Conway scores 50! New Zealand 106-1

• Conway scores 100! New Zealand 193-1

• Ravindra scores 100! New Zealand 214-1

• New Zealand win by nine wickets!

New Zealand win World Cup opener by nine wickets

18:14 , Sonia Twigg

The Independent’s Sonia Twigg looks at where England can go from here:

All the anticipation, all the build-up, all the replays of the 2019 final, the World Cup started, and England were dealt a crushing nine-wicket defeat at the hands of New Zealand. This was a game that was definitely not decided by the ‘barest of margins’.

Jos Buttler was left to admit that his England side had been ‘completely outplayed’, but the sheer dominance of New Zealand against the defending champions was ruthless and significant.

England must take vital lesson from World Cup humiliation

New Zealand win World Cup opener by nine wickets

16:37 , Sonia Twigg

Here’s the full match report:

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.

England put to the sword by New Zealand in World Cup opener

New Zealand win World Cup opener by nine wickets

16:28 , Sonia Twigg

A final word from Buttler on Ben Stokes: “We’ll wait and see I think he’s working hard with the physios and fingers crossed he can get fit as soon as possible.”

New Zealand win World Cup opener by nine wickets

16:26 , Sonia Twigg

Jos Buttler said: “A disappointing day, we were very much outplayed by New Zealand, and it’s tough to take but it is just one loss at the start of a long tournament.

“I think there’s a lot of guys in our team who have played a lot of cricket, we won’t get too down on ourselves, as much as we wouldn’t get too up on the other end as well.”

On batting: “I felt we were well below par, I felt like we were aiming for something like 330. I think we just lacked being a bit clinical with our execution, I think some of our dismissals were the right shots but not being executed right.”

On the New Zealand batting: “I think they’ve played some really good cricket shots and got good value for them. The two guys played exceptionally well and we were well beaten today.”

New Zealand win World Cup opener by nine wickets

16:21 , Sonia Twigg

Root added: “It’s always cagey in opening games. We under-performed with the ball and that’s why the gulf was so big in this game.

“I think being more consistent with a good length early on when you have got a bit of assistance with seam movement and swing, I just feel like we leaked, and we gave them plenty of scoring opportunities both sides of the wicket.

“I don’t think we need to spend a huge amount of time talking about it, it’s pretty obvious where we went wrong it’s just about how we don’t find ourselves in this situation again.”

New Zealand win World Cup opener by nine wickets

16:19 , Sonia Twigg

Joe Root said to Sky Sports: “I think we were just below par in all departments if we’re being really honest. batting-wise I don’t think we had the best of the conditions.

“Every time we felt like we were building something we lost a wicket.

“Going into the field I don’t think we delivered anything near what we were capable of. There’s so much cricket at this tournament and it’s very important that we don’t panic and we re-affirm what we are as a team.”

New Zealand win World Cup opener by nine wickets

16:18 , Sonia Twigg

New Zealand won with 13 overs to spare...just let that sink in.

Rachin Ravindra said after the game when he received the player of the match award: “Sometimes it’s a little bit unbelievable at times but it was great to have a good day out.

“Luckily I had Devon out there to show me what to do and it was cool. I’ve spent a lot of time with him and we’re very close mates and having him out there definitely helped.”

On when he found out he would be batting three, Ravindra said: “I think it was yesterday, lucky enough I got the opportunity and we’ll see what happens.”

New Zealand win by nine wickets!

16:10 , Sonia Twigg

In the two overs since drinks New Zealand have scored 36 runs. Although net run rate won’t matter for a while this is just hurting England.

It is a huge blow for the defending champions, not to lose but to be beaten in such a fashion having beaten the Kiwis in England during a pre-tournament bi-lateral series.

These two batters have been exceptional, especially Ravindra on World Cup debut, and they have demolished this England attack from the outset.

This has been a special victory and a memorable one, but England will have questions to answer before their next game.

Conway 150! New Zealand 281-1 (36), Conway 151, Ravindra 122, Livingstone 0-24 (3) need 2 to win

16:07 , Sonia Twigg

The partnership is now 255 and getting bigger every minute, this could be the biggest partnership of the tournament, and it will certainly be difficult to beat.

Livingstone will have another, and there’s another boundary as Wood has to pick himself gingerly off the ground after diving for that one.

Conway has his 150, England have been hammered here by New Zealand.

New Zealand 265-1 (35) Conway 140, Ravindra 117, Curran 1-47 (6) need 18 runs to win

16:03 , Sonia Twigg

Curran will try and change something, and Root tries to run after a high one but it has dropped over the rope, for a six just after the drinks break.

Did they get a message to start thinking about the run rate?

The next one is sent for four, this looks like they are in a hurry, a slower ball has been slapped to the boundary.

The partnership is now over 250. That was a brilliant over from the batters.

New Zealand 245-1 (34) Conway 120, Ravindra 117, Ali 0-58 (9) need 38 runs to win

15:56 , Sonia Twigg

Conway and Ravindra have batted superbly, the only question remaining is whether they will see their side home.

Ravindra carts Ali for another six over midwicket, a touch fuller and successfully dispatched. He has not mistimed one all innings, just incredible, and he follows it up with another four.

New Zealand 234-1 (33) Conway 119, Ravindra 107, Curran 1-27 (5) need 49 runs to win

15:53 , Sonia Twigg

Curran back in to bowl and he has the only wicket of the innings so far.

Starts with a back-of-the-hand slower ball, but I think it’s a case of formality now.

Barring something exceptional from England that there hasn’t been a hint of yet, it’s looking like New Zealand will cruise to victory and the defending champions will be left scratching their heads.

New Zealand 225-1 (32) Conway 117, Ravindra 102, Ali 0-47 (8) need 57 runs to win

15:47 , Sonia Twigg

These two have batted absolutely exceptionally, but England will have to step up. Hopefully, it will be a catalyst, the batting performance was sub-par but this bowling performance has been far from the clinical line and length you would expect from the defending champions.

Ravindra’s century the youngest by a New Zealand batsman in a World Cup, and what a way to announce yourself on the world stage.

Buttler fumbles one, could that have been a chance?

New Zealand 222-1 (31), Conway 115, Ravindra 100, Livingstone 0-8 (2) need 61 runs to win

15:44 , Sonia Twigg

Conway has looked to accelerate the next ball, maybe with one eye on the net run rate...

Ravindra 100! New Zealand 214-1

15:42 , Sonia Twigg

Will Ravindra get his century this over? He gets a single off the first ball...

Buttler chooses not to bring the field up, Livingstone runs up and pulls out last minute holding his chest.

But he does get it! This is turned away into the leg side, and the 23-year-old has his century, a brilliant century from the Kiwi youngster.

New Zealand 211-1 (30), Conway 110, Ravindra 98, Ali 0-43 (7) need 72 runs to win

15:40 , Sonia Twigg

The next will be Ali’s seventh, and it’s starting to look like there isn’t anything England can do to break this partnership.

Just the two from that over as well.

New Zealand 209-1 (29), Conway 109, Ravindra 97, Livingstone 0-1 (1) need 74 runs to win

15:38 , Sonia Twigg

Liam Livingstone will have a chance to find the elusive breakthrough, although it is unlikely to have any effect even if it does come now.

Just the one run from the over, it’s been a long time since one went for so few, but they just need 74 runs to win and there’s a lot of time left in this match.

New Zealand 206-1 (28), Conway 107, Ravindra 97, Ali 0-40 (6) need 75 runs to win

15:34 , Sonia Twigg

Will Ravindra get there this over too? He has already hit a four first ball of the over to move on to 95.

He will have to wait another over, but is edging closer on 97.

New Zealand 200-1, Conway 106, Ravindra 91, Wood 0-55 (5) need 83 runs to win

15:30 , Sonia Twigg

Conway’s century came up after the first ball of the over, with a low-key celebration, there is still a game to win but what a brilliant milestone.

He follows it up later in the innings with a lovely stroke to the cover boundary for four, 143.3kph but that has just meant it raced across the surface.

And the 200 comes up in that over as well

Conway 100! New Zealand 193-1

15:26 , Sonia Twigg

He has played very well for that! First hundred of the tournament, silence and a belated achievement, it has been an incredible century, and what a way to lay down a marker in the first match.

New Zealand 192-1 (26) Conway 99, Ravindra 90, Rashid 0-47 (7)

15:25 , Sonia Twigg

Conway is getting well forward to Rashid and playing far outside the line of off stump. He does manage to get the single however and moves to 99...

New Zealand 187-1 (25) Conway 98, Ravindra 87, Wood 0-47 (4) need 96 to win

15:22 , Sonia Twigg

Wood will bowl his fourth over here, with England still on the hunt for their second wicket, a situation they were in when he was first brought into the attack inside the first powerplay.

Conway hits one just over midwicket for four, a bit high on the bat but Curran is not the tallest and it was just too high for him, a sort of half chance for England, but the first they’ve had for a while.

New Zealand 178-1 (24) Conway 92, Ravindra 85, Rashid 0-43 (6) need 105 runs to win

15:15 , Mike Jones

England have had no answer to the power and skill of the New Zealand batters. Ravindra drops low and sweeps Rashid away for a single.

Just two runs come from the over.

New Zealand 176-1 (23) Conway 91, Ravindra 84, Woakes 0-45 (6) need 107 runs to win

15:12 , Mike Jones

Chris Woakes decides the time is right to come around the wicket at Rachin Ravindra. The New Zealand No. 3 attempts to pull him away and toes the ball straight back to the bowler along the floor.

Six! Ravindra reads a slower ball from Woakes and nails a lofted drive over the bowler’s head for a maximum. That’s a world class shot.

Woakes responds with a dot ball before Ravindra cuts him away for one to Mark Wood at deep third man. There are two balls left for Conway to play out and he only collects one run.

New Zealand 168-1 (22) Conway 90, Ravindra 77, Rashid 0-41 (5) need 115 runs to win

15:07 , Mike Jones

The win predictor gives England a 9% chance of turning this match around from this position. They need wickets, nothing else will save them.

Conway slices Rashid away to deep point for one before Liam Livingstone saves a couple of runs with a full length stop on the deep midwicket boundary.

Rashid hasn’t been able to assert any control on proceedings. He’s milked away for six more runs with just one dot ball in the over.

New Zealand 162-1 (21) Conway 88, Ravindra 73, Woakes 0-37 (5) need 121 runs to win

15:04 , Mike Jones

New Zealand are in full flow. Things look very bleak for England as Chris Woakes continues for his fifth over. Rachin Ravindra turns a decent length ball into the legside for one before Devon Conway pulls a shortish ball to the boundary fielder for another single.

The batters proceed to rotate the strike before Conway smokes a wonderful drive straight down the ground for four runs bringing up the 150 partnership!

Another single finishes off the over with New Zealand needing a further 121 runs to win this match.

New Zealand 154-1 (20) Conway, 82, Ravindra 71, Rashid 0-35 (4) need 129 runs to win

15:01 , Sonia Twigg

Rashid is back for his fourth over, and England will hoping the two from the last over has just started building the smallest amount of pressure.

The first five balls of the over went for just three, but all that has been released when Conway has absolutely smashed that into the stands.

New Zealand 145-1 (19), Conway 74, Ravindra 70, Woakes 0-29 (4) need 138 runs to win

14:57 , Sonia Twigg

Woakes will have another chance to redeem himself after three expensive overs at the start of the innings - including 10 off the first one - that caused an early change of plans.

That was Woakes’ best over of the lot, just the two runs from it.

New Zealand 143-1 (18), Conway 73, Ravindra 69, Ali 0-33 (5)

14:53 , Sonia Twigg

Now it’s time to see if that brief pause and drinks break has had an impact. Ben Stokes having a word with some of the players and offering his advice to Buttler, after he was not passed fit enough to play ahead of the game.

Ravindra’s 67 includes eight fours and 3 sixes so far.

That was a better over from Ali, and England have appealed a half-appeal for lbw from the off-spinner.

That was a hint of desperation to try and make something happen, it was absolutely nowhere near the stumps and pitching outside off, and an even more worrying sign for those supporting the team in blue.

New Zealand 137-1 (17), Conway 70, Ravindra 67, Rashid 0-26 (3) need 145 runs to win

14:47 , Sonia Twigg

Another boundary first ball of the over, this time off Rashid, and England need this drinks break to try and drag themselves back into this game, as New Zealand have done everything right so far and Buttler’s side look short of answers.

New Zealand 130-1 (16), Conway 68, Ravindra 61, Ali 0-28 (4) need 153 to win

14:44 , Sonia Twigg

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

14:42 , Sonia Twigg

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

14:39 , Sonia Twigg

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)

14:35 , Sonia Twigg

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

14:31 , Sonia Twigg

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)

14:27 , Sonia Twigg

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

14:23 , Sonia Twigg

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

14:19 , Sonia Twigg

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

14:14 , Sonia Twigg

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)

14:10 , Sonia Twigg

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.

New Zealand 37-1 (6), Conway 14, Ravindra 22, Curran 1-10 (3)

14:04 , Sonia Twigg

Curran has gone for a run! After two maidens, including a wicket maiden with his first over, he has finally conceded a run from the first ball of his third.

The first five balls went for singles and then Ravindra nailed one through the covers final ball of the over.

New Zealand 27-1 (5), Conway 11, Ravindra 16, Woakes 0-31 (3)

14:00 , Sonia Twigg

Buttler is showing faith in Woakes here, he spoke about loyalty ahead of the tournament and believing in his players, although that was after Roy was axed in favour of Harry Brook.

This is a much better over from Woakes who just looks like he’s settled down slightly into a more comfortable rhythm.

There is another boundary for Ravindra, but it’s a wide flash rather than a controlled shot, with a bit of width on offer and it did hang in the air.

Unfortunately for Woakes and England however, the last ball of the over is flicked off the pads for another boundary.

New Zealand 19-1 (4), Conway 11, Ravindra 8, Curran 1-0 (2) (need 264 to win)

13:55 , Sonia Twigg

Curran has yet to go for a run here, and the first ball of the over is similarly tight, and the second is an lbw shout against Conway and Buttler has decided not to review, and the replays show it would have just clipped the bails on umpire’s call.

Curran has not let up the pressure here and it is a tale of two ends here, and he bowls another maiden.

New Zealand 19-1 (3), Conway 11, Ravindra 8, Woakes 0-19 (2) (need 264 to win)

13:51 , Sonia Twigg

Woakes is back for a second over despite his first going for 10, and Conway who scored all those runs just starts with a tap back to the bowler.

There was almost a run-out chance, with Curran’s shy at the stumps just going wide of the stumps at the bowler’s end and Conway would have been out if he hit.

But the third one is too full and straight and Ravindra is off the mark with a boundary, he dragged it back too much and goes too short with Ravindra capitalising again.

New Zealand 10-1 (2), Conway 10, Ravindra 0, Curran 1-0 (1), require 283 runs to win

13:46 , Mike Jones

The new batter for New Zealand is another left-hander in Rachin Ravindra. He’s been bumped up the order in the absence of Kane Williamson but is no slouch with the bat.

Curran is getting a bit of swing out there and Ravindra is watchful for his opening deliveries. Hitting the pitch just back of a length Curran sends down five more dot balls and finishes with a wicket maiden.

Great response from England.

Wicket! Will Young ct. Jos Buttler b. Sam Curran 0 (1), New Zealand 10-1 (1.1)

13:42 , Mike Jones

New Zealand lose their first wicket and it’s a first ball duck for Will Young. Sam Curran comes on to bowl the second over and swings the ball past the legs of the right-hander.

He dangles his bat towards it, gets a edge to the ball and feathers it through to Jos Buttler behind the stumps. England strike early!

New Zealand 10-0 (1), Conway 10, Young 0, Woakes 0-10 (1), require 283 runs to win

13:40 , Mike Jones

Woakes draws his lengths back into that awkward position that makes driving much harder but strays too straight and allows Conway to work the ball down to Adil Rashid at fine leg for a couple.

Another over correction sees Woakes over pitch the ball and Conway drills it through cover for four more!

The over ends with a dot ball but it’s a great start for New Zealand.

New Zealand 4-0 (0.1), Conway 4, Young 0, Woakes 0-4 (0.1), require 283 runs to win

13:37 , Mike Jones

Devon Conway and Will Young come out to open the batting for New Zealand during this run chase and it’ll be Chris Woakes to bowl the first over.

There’s a third man and a fine leg on the boundary as Woakes angles the ball across the left-handed Conway. He eases into a drive and smokes it to the boundary for four!

What a start.

England set New Zealand 283 to win

13:33 , Mike Jones

Joe Root was the only England batter to pass fifty during their innings as they stuttered and stumbled to a total of 282 runs. Jos Buttler will need to have a good second innings as captain to lead England to victory.

Dew could play a factor later in the game which means Mark Wood’s pace and the spin of Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid and Liam Livingstone could prove to be the key ingredients for England.

Weather forecast and pitch report for England vs New Zealand opener

13:32 , Mike Jones

A much-anticipated match kicks off the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 as defending champions England take on New Zealand in India’s Ahmedabad, where the weather is set to be in contrast to what was faced in the earlier warm-up matches.

Fans lining up for the opening match are expecting a tense fight as the 2019 World Cup final between the two sides has been regarded as the best-ever One Day International (ODI) match in the history of the sport.

After being neck-and-neck throughout the 2019 match, it was England led by Eoin Morgan that ended up clinching its first 50-over World Cup trophy.

World Cup: Weather forecast and pitch report for England vs New Zealand opener

England set New Zealand 283 to win

13:27 , Mike Jones

One innings into the World Cup and all 11 England players make double figures, the first time any team has done so in ODIs (men’s and women’s).

Babar Azam says India ‘feels like home’ after Pakistan World Cup visa controversy

13:23 , Mike Jones

Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam acknowledged the generous hospitality his side received in India ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, despite controversy over the players’ visas to enter the host country.

Azam talked about the last few days he and the Pakistan team have spent in India at the Captains’ Day event at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on Wednesday, on the eve of the 2023 cricket tournament.

He said that after his team landed in Hyderabad city, it did “not feel like we are in India; it was like we are at home”. The Pakistani skipper also said on Instagram that his team was left “overwhelmed with the love and support” they received in the city from the Indian public.

Babar Azam says ‘India feels like home’ after Pakistan World Cup visa controversy

Harry Brook earned England World Cup call-up – but can he do it in India?

13:17 , Mike Jones

There are not many players who burst onto the scene in quite as explosive a way as Harry Brook has done since he made his England debut in an innocuous T20 against the West Indies in January 2022.

In autumn 2022 it was hard to envisage an England Test team without Jonny Bairstow after his mammoth performances in the first Bazball summer, but just a few months later, England had to re-adjust their side to find space for both Yorkshiremen.

In the winter of that year, when England returned to Pakistan for the first Test series there in 17 years, it was Brook who finished as the top run-scorer of the series, an average of 93.60 and he had all but made himself undroppable.

Harry Brook earned England World Cup call-up – but can he do it in India?

England set New Zealand 283 to win

13:10 , Mike Jones

It’s a score slightly lower than England would have liked especially after their strong start to the innings. New Zealand battled well, took wickets consistently and never allowed Jos Buttler’s side to get away.

The target is competitive but England will need to bowl well to defend this total.

England set New Zealand 283 to win

13:08 , Sonia Twigg

England have managed to wrangle a passable total there but it has been an innings of frustration from the defending champions.

So many batters, Bairstow, Buttler, Livingstone, Brook, all made impressive-looking starts but failed to push on and it all fell on Root’s shoulders.

Root played well for his 77, but one misjudged sweep sparked a collapse and England were fortunate to limp over the line and avoid being bowled out in the World Cup opener in Ahmedabad.

England 282-9 (50) Wood 13, Rashid 15, Neesham 0-56 (7)

13:06 , Sonia Twigg

England may decide to go for it in the final over...and they do, Wood with a shot over the ring, but short of the man on the boundary, that might have been more.

There are four men on the boundary on the leg side and just one on the off. A wide and a single helps England on to more than 270.

Rashid smashes one for 6, it was a length delivery and the third ball of the over has been dispatched.

He tried another but it was kept to just a single.

England 268-9 (49), Wood 10, Rashid 7, Boult 1-48 (10)

13:02 , Sonia Twigg

England will hope to hang on in this Boult over and have a bit of a go at Neesham in the last, with Boult on for the 49th.

Wood and Rashid have done well to hang on here and the runs have slowed to a trickle but importantly kept coming.

England 263-9 (48), Wood 7, Rashid 5, Henry 3-48 (10)

12:57 , Sonia Twigg

Henry will have his last one now, if it does go to the final over I’m not sure who will bowl it, although that’s looking more and more unlikely.

Wood and Rashid scamper for two, and are hanging on here, with five more runs added.

England 258-9 (47), Wood 3, Rashid 4, Boult 1-43 (9)

12:54 , Sonia Twigg

Boult will bowl this one, and England are hanging in there still with four more runs from the over and desperately trying not to get bowled out here.

England 254-9 (46), Wood 1, Rashid 2, Henry 3-43 (9)

12:50 , Sonia Twigg

England fans will be hoping Mark Wood can play an entertaining innings similar to the ones he did at Headingley during the Ashes, but the first one is just snuck away for a single.

Curran out for 14! England 252-9

12:47 , Sonia Twigg

Henry back into the attack as New Zealand sense a chance to bowl England out.

He is off the mark first ball, but Curran will have to take charge and try and see this out as best he can, having said that he has almost chipped one back to the bowler.

But Curran goes to cut one and just catches the edge on the way through to Latham.

Woakes out for 11! England 250-8 (45), Curran 13, Santner 2-37 (10)

12:44 , Sonia Twigg

Santner will now have his last over. Curran has the ball to try and hit but just plays it for a single, a run a ball here would get England to a sub-par but reasonable total.

Even Eoin Morgan is talking about a run-a-ball from here in the last five overs of an ODI.

A slow ball is too much for Woakes who goes for it but the lack of pace sees it loop straight to the fielder.

England 247-7 (44), Curran 11, Woakes 10, Phillips 2-17 (3)

12:39 , Sonia Twigg

Phillips will have only his third over here, and the first two have each brought a reward, including the scalp of Root in his previous one.

Woakes has put a short one away here, and these two can definitely bat, both have experience in the format, white-ball cricket and playing in India.

It was the first boundary for 33 deliveries though, showing that England have been kept quiet.

England 239-7 (43), Curran 9, Woakes 4, Ravindra 1-76(10)

12:36 , Sonia Twigg

Ravindra will have his last over here, at a time in the game when teams normally turn back to the seamers, but New Zealand are in a dominant position here.

England 235-7 (42), Curran 7, Woakes 2, Phillips 2-9 (2)

12:33 , Sonia Twigg

That was a massive blow to England and a huge scalp for New Zealand, Root just misjudged that and got caught, it was too straight and full.

Chris Woakes was off the mark straight away with a single, but the run rate might just slow down here

Wicket! Root out for 77! England 229-7

12:29 , Sonia Twigg

That was a massive wicket! And a huge dent to England’s chances, Phillips has his second and the first ball of only his second over!

Root goes for a scoop and misjudges the length and the ball sneaks under the bat.

England 229-6 (41), Curran 3, Root 77, Ravindra 1-72 (9)

12:27 , Sonia Twigg

Well we’re into the final 10 overs of the England innings now, they’re six wickets down, but crucially Root is still at the crease, and can hopefully steady the side from one end, allowing some of the other players to go for it a bit more.

Ravindra has been the most expensive so far, so it will be interesting to see if they go after him again, or if the lack of wickets in the bag is at the back of their minds.

England 224-6 (40), Curran 1, Root 74, Santner 1-34 (9)

12:23 , Sonia Twigg

Santner back into the attack to take the pace off and force the batters to think here.

Curran can bat and he’s got a lot of IPL experience, but it’s more wickets lost than England would have wanted.

England 221-6 (39), Curran 0, Root 72, Boult 1-39 (8)

12:21 , Sonia Twigg

At every point you feel like England are just about to accelerate and start to push on, they lose a wicket.

It’s been a bit of a frustrating start, all the batters have got themselves in and then gone, with Root just holding things together.

Wicket! Livingstone out for 20! England 221-6

12:18 , Sonia Twigg

New Zealand looking to strike bring the leading wicket-taker for the Kiwis in World Cups back into the attack with Boult.

Livingstone did not look comfortable, just wafting at some, and the first four balls were dots and then he goes for a big flick and hits it straight to the fielder.

England 221-5 (38), Livingstone 20, Root 72, Neesham 0-42 (6)

12:14 , Sonia Twigg

Neesham will bowl his 5th over, as the game drifts into the final stages.

Root just has to hold up one end, while allowing Livingstone to play his own game at the other, although they have been content to just find the singles, taking just two from the over before a streaky boundary helped ease the pressure.

England 214-5 (37), Livingstone 14, Root 71, Henry 2-39 (8)

12:10 , Sonia Twigg

The Root scoop comes out and he has a boundary from Henry, that was a great boundary and well-judged.

All of Root’s five boundaries have all come behind square, using the pace of the quicker bowlers, and that last one moved him on to 70.

Livingstone was struck on the pad but it was going down and no review.

England 208-5 (35), Livingstone 13, Root 66, Santner 1-31 (8)

12:06 , Sonia Twigg

After an expensive over with two boundaries from it from Ravindra, it’s back to the more measured Santner.

Root is so quick between the wickets despite being out there for a long time, he plops one into a gap and calls his partner back for a second.

The England batters have just kept knocking it around for singles.

England 199-5 (35), Livingstone 12, Root 62, Ravindra 1-67 (8)

12:03 , Sonia Twigg

Ravindra is back into the attack which is an interesting choice, maybe New Zealand will be hoping Livingstone will do something similar to Brook and try and go after him one too many times.

Livingstone has his first boundary with a fine leg glance, and despite a sliding attempt, Boult can’t get there to stop the ball from crossing the boundary.

The new batter does the same with the final ball of the over, not sure Livingstone does slow and steady innings...

England 191-5 (34), Livingstone 2, Root 60, Henry 2-33 (7)

11:59 , Sonia Twigg

Liam Livingstone replaces his captain in the middle, and there’s still a long way to go in this innings, never mind the match.

Henry welcomes him with a short bouncer that strikes him on the helmet, a bit of a welcome that!

Drinks: England 188-5

11:54 , Sonia Twigg

The wicket of Buttler will be drinks for England and Root, who had an important part to play before that wicket but now he is essential if his side are to have any chance of reaching 300.

Buttler out for 43! England 188-5

11:53 , Sonia Twigg

Henry will continue with his seventh over of the day and strikes a massive blow to England’s chances!

Buttler has gone, looking to create room and just edges behind!

England 187-4 (33), Buttler 43, Root 58, Ravindra 1-55 (7)

11:50 , Sonia Twigg

Ravindra is back into the attack and Buttler goes for a drive first ball, there’s an athletic attempt on the boundary to stop the ball by Daryl Mitchell, who saves two runs.

It’s a good sign for England that Buttler is timing the ball this well on an outfield this fast.

Root has another boundary with a bit of innovation to get into the reverse-sweep position and just paddle the ball into the gap on the boundary.

England 178-4 (32), Buttler 39, Root 53, Henry 1-29(6)

11:46 , Sonia Twigg

Root took 57 balls to reach his half-century, not a quick one, but not too slow either.

Four screws and a plate in Tim Southee’s thumb at the moment, with the injury he sustained in England ahead of the tournament, that will be a blow to the Kiwis and compounded with the injury to Ferguson.

Another one is beautifully timed by Buttler into the gap between long off and extra cover, he’s looking in great touch so far.

England 171-4, Buttler 34, Root 51, Neesham 0-35 (5)

11:42 , Sonia Twigg

Just after that Root goes down to try the scoop but got caught there and just had to parry the ball into the ground towards third man.

The next one is a more textbook drive from Buttler into the off side, lovely timing that he has shown already with two big sixes down the ground.

This outfield is absolutely rapid!

As Eoin Morgan is saying, England have to be targeting over 300, and that means New Zealand need wickets.

England 166-4(30), Buttler 30, Root 50, Boult 0-39(7)

11:38 , Sonia Twigg

Root needed that, he looked a bit out of sorts ahead of the tournament but shows all of his experience on the biggest stage to bring up the 50 in a much-needed partnership with Buttler.

Root 50!

11:36 , Sonia Twigg

Root and Buttler changing gloves and having a drink. Root is struck on the knee with a low full toss from Boult but he can’t quite put it away.

The next ball hits the fielder on the rink, and Root has had to wait for his half-century here.

But it does come, a flick off his pads into the leg side and Root has a 50!

England 165-4 (29), Buttler 30, Root 45, Neesham 0-30(4)

11:33 , Sonia Twigg

Jimmy Neesham is back into the attack, New Zealand to continue the rotation of bowlers to try and find a fifth breakthrough.

Both players are finding the singles quite easy to come by and are rotating the strike well, and Buttler adds another six off Neesham, again this one was just picked perfectly and hit down the ground, capitalising with both mid-on and mid-off up in the ring.

Root moves on to 49...

England 155-4 (28), Buttler 28, Root 47, Boult 0-38(6)

11:29 , Sonia Twigg

Boult is back to inject a bit of pace back into the attack, and Buttler cuts the first ball into the ground but to backward point.

It hasn’t had a huge difference on the scoring, England still just playing singles.

This pair cannot afford to take a risk as another wicket would put Buttler’s side firmly on the back foot.

England 150-4 (27), Buttler 18, Root 46, Ravindra 1-47 (6)

11:25 , Sonia Twigg

Buttler calls for a drink and it is hot out there in Ahmedabad at this time of year.

But it doesn’t seem like he needs it, hitting Ravindra straight down the ground back over his head for a six, that was a perfect half volley, right in the slot and it has been punished!

The next one is cut away for two, Ravindra is definitely proving easier for the England batters to get away than Santner at the other end.

England 139-4 (26), Buttler 7, Root 45, Santner 1-26 (7)

11:21 , Sonia Twigg

After a couple of dots, England have a single. It sort of feels like the game is just trickling along here.

Just another few singles from the over, Root on to 45.

England 135-4 (25), Buttler 6, Root 43, Ravindra 1-36 (5)

11:18 , Sonia Twigg

Sachin Tendulkar was saying the changes in the rules of the game has allowed players to think differently and thinks T20 has allowed players to take more chances and back themselves.

Root had to wait but there is a boundary! A fine sweep goes for four and the Yorkshireman is into the 40s.

England 128-4 (24), Buttler 5, Root 37, Santner 1-22(6)

11:16 , Sonia Twigg

We’re firmly into the middle overs now where spin takes over, the pace comes off and the runs just become that little bit harder to find.

Santner continues and has not been expensive or offered a lot of width to the batters so far.

Six fielders in the ring forces the batter to take a few chances, but there are still three floating around the boundary.

England 125-4 (23), Buttler 4, Root 36, Ravindra 1-29 (4)

11:13 , Sonia Twigg

“I remember in 2011 we said we have to remember that a billion people are with us and not on top of our head,” says Sachin Tendulkar on the Sky commentary.

As Ravindra goes for two runs from the first two balls of his fourth over with Buttler just getting a feel for the surface.

England 121-4 (22), Buttler 2, Root 33, Philipps 1-3 (1)

11:09 , Sonia Twigg

That wicket was just what England didn’t need after the early three, and this will have to be a big partnership from Buttler and Root.

I have to say five did feel slightly high for Moeen Ali, and more concerning for England to lose a wicket like that.

Ali misjudged the ball and went for a big swing but was through the shot before the ball reached him from the slightly part-time spinner in Phillips and England have lost another wicket.

Wicket! Moeen Ali out for 11! England 118-4

11:06 , Sonia Twigg

A change in the attack with Glenn Phillips coming on to bowl, and he starts with a dot straight at the stumps.

And the second ball he has a wicket! Ali goes for a big swing and misses the slower ball which goes straight onto the stumps.

England 118-3 (21), Ali 11, Root 32, Ravindra 1-25(3)

11:03 , Sonia Twigg

Ravindra, who got the wicket of Harry Brook is back on to bowl, he has been slightly expensive so far, and he was during the pre-tournament series in England as well.

Ali and Root just knocking the ball around for singles and looking comfortable, six singles from the over.

England 112-3 (20), Root 29, Moeen 8, Neesham 0-19 (3)

10:59 , Mike Jones

Moeen Ali looks to have settled quickly and eases the ball away for one but Joe Root drives the ball away to the square point boundary for another single.

For New Zealand, Jimmy Neesham has a bit of work to do through these middle overs. His job is to keep England as quiet as possible and maybe pick up a wicket or two to keep the pressure on.

This is a good over with just three runs to come from it.

England 109-3 (19), Root 28, Moeen 7, Ravindra 1-19 (2)

10:55 , Mike Jones

Joe Root will continue on his merry way accummulating runs and going for the odd expansive stroke. He’s the glue that ties England’s batting order together and should lead them to a decent total if he’s still in at the backend of the innings.

Root and Moeen work Ravindra’s next over for three singles before Moeen misses out on a full toss and pokes it down the ground for one more.

England 105-3 (18), Root 26, Moeen 5, Neesham 0-17 (2)

10:52 , Mike Jones

Moeen Ali is England’s new batter coming in ahead of captain Jos Buttler. He gets off the mark immediately with a dab into square leg for one.

With Root back on strike Neesham targets the legside and sees the ball flicked wide of wicketkeeper Tom Latham for four more runs. That shot also brings up England’s 100.

Another single for Root brings Moeen back on strike and he spanks the last delivery through midwicket for four as well!

Wicket! Harry Brook ct. Devon Conway b. Rachin Ravindra 25 (16), England 94-3 (17)

10:48 , Mike Jones

One big shot too many!

Perhaps the feeling of smashing boundaries got to Harry Brook as he looks for the legside once again. This time he miscues the ball straight into the air and Devon Conway makes no mistakes in plucking the ball out of the air.

England lose their third wicket.

England 94-2 (16.5), Root 20, Brook 25, Ravindra 0-15 (0.5)

10:46 , Mike Jones

New Zealand replace one left-arm spinner with another as Rachin Ravindra comes into the attack. He’s a more orthodox spinner who bowls at a slower pace to Santner.

Joe Root takes one and leaves Harry Brook to go on the attack which he does. Twice Ravindra drags the ball down and twice Brook pulls him away to the gap at deep midwicket. Back-to-back fours!

That’s even bigger! There’s no fielders out a deep midwicket so Brook goes up-and-over launching the ball into the stands for six...

Drinks: England 79-2 (16), Root 19, Brook 11, Neesham 0-6 (1)

10:41 , Mike Jones

It’s probably honours even for the first period of play as the players stop to take a drink. New Zealand have dismissed both openers with Joe Root and Harry Brook starting a rebuild.

The pitch looks good though and if they can create a platform it should suit the more aggressive batters like Jos Buttler and Liam Livingstone still to come.

England 79-2 (16), Root 19, Brook 11, Neesham 0-6 (1)

10:39 , Mike Jones

Jimmy Neesham comes into the attack for New Zealand and is met by a spanking shot from Harry Brook who dispatches him to the boundary for another four runs!

Brook then gets off strike and leaves the bulk of the over to Joe Root who just takes another single.

England 69-2 (14), Root 16, Brook 4, Boult 0-33 (5)

10:32 , Mike Jones

Joe Root takes one off the first ball from Trent Boult’s next over bringing Harry Brook on strike. He latches onto a slightly shorter ball and pulls Boult to the boundary for his first four!

Three dot balls follow as Brook attempts to muller the ball through the offside but his early on each shot and just skews the ball into the turf.

Five from the over.

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