05/10Result
1st Match (D/N), ICC Cricket World Cup at Ahmedabad, Oct 5 2023
New Zealand won by 9 wkts (82b rem)
Player of the Match
Rachin Ravindra
Rachin RavindraNew Zealand
05/10Result
1st Match (D/N), ICC Cricket World Cup at Ahmedabad, Oct 5 2023
New Zealand won by 9 wkts (82b rem)
Player of the Match
Rachin Ravindra
Rachin RavindraNew Zealand

9pm NZ have started the World Cup with a bang. They've found a new hero in Rachin Ravindra. He might not have even played had Ferguson been fit. He has now made himself undroppable. Thanks for tuning in today. Until next time, this is Deivarayan Muthu signing off on the behalf of Andrew Miller. Take care and cheers

8.40pm No Williamson. No Southee. No Ferguson. No Bracewell. No problem for NZ as they dispatch defending champions England in Ahmedabad. After winning the toss, NZ limited England's power-packed line-up to 282 for 9, thanks in no small part to Mitch Santner and Matt Henry. Sam Curran then struck with his first ball to dismiss Will Young for a duck in NZ's chase, but Conway and Ravindra struck up a stunning stand to smash England's attack. Conway made a career-best 152* while Ravindra become NZ's youngest World Cup centurion at 23. Stay locked in for the post-match presentation.

Rachin Ravindra, Player of the Match: Sometimes it's unbelievable at times, but great to have a great day out. The bowlers bowled well and lucky enough to have Devon out there. I spent a lot of time with Dev and we are very, very close mates. I was little more comfortable and I have a lot of chat with Dev - being able to do that in the middle is cool. For sure, if you asked us four-five years, we all knew the kind of player Dev would become. The surface was very good and lovely to bat on, similar to the warm-up game in Hyderabad.

Jos Buttler, England captain: Disappointing day. Very much outplayed by NZ and tough defeat to take. It's still one loss in a long tournament. I think a lot of guys in our team have played a lot of cricket - we won't be too down on ourselves and won't be too high on the other side. I thought we were well below par. We were aiming for somewhere around 330 and it [the pitch] somewhat played better under lights. We just lacked being clinical with your execution. Some of the dismissals were right shots but not executed properly. I think NZ played some great cricket shots and got great value for them. Devon Conway - can't think of massive shots but he scored quickly. Him and Rachin put together a fantastic partnership and we were well beaten. I think the pitch skidded on better under lights but we played a long way short of our best. Don't think there's any question around Root. He's been our best player in our team for a long while. We will wait and see (on Ben Stokes?). Fingers crossed, he can get fit as soon as possible.

Tom Latham, NZ captain: Obviously, a fantastic partnership between Rachin and Devon. From the 30-over mark onwards, to restrict them to 280 was fantastic. It has been a quick build-up - the warm-ups and guys from Bangladesh. We've played a bit in these conditions and I thought we adapted to these conditions beautifully. The two seamers - Henners and Boulty - did a great job and took wickets at crucial times. To restrict them to 280 was outstanding. Probably, the most pleasing thing was Devon and Rachin just reacted to what was being bowled. Rachin played a fantastic innings and proud of him. Looking forward to get around him tonight.

Mitch Santner speaks to Star Sports: Obviously, England are a tough opponent and probably a good toss to win. It looked like it skidded on under lights. Hats off to Devon and Rachin. Lockie had soreness and it kind of changed the balance of the team. Rachin made the most of his opportunity and he showed that he's a world-class player. These two love batting together. They do domestically and love it. We've seen Conway's quality for a while and Rachin played well during the warm-ups. They just want to keep batting and batting, which is good for us. I thought we got wickets at crucial times and Matt Henry's wicket of Jos...

Arvind: "Incredible to see Rachin being so articulate and charming after being in the field for 99 overs in this heat...a megastar in the making."

36.2
1
Ali to Ravindra, 1 run, on the pads once again, this is Ravindra's turn to pick it away to deep midwicket. He hits the winning runs for NZ on his WC debut. Stuff of dreams. Ravindra then gets together with his Wellington mate Conway
36.1
1
Ali to Conway, 1 run, on the pads, tucked away to deep midwicket. The scores are level

END OF OVER:
36 | 16 Runs | NZ: 281/1 (2 runs required from 14 overs, RR: 7.80, RRR: 0.14)

  • Rachin Ravindra122 (95b)
  • Devon Conway151 (120b)
  • Liam Livingstone3-0-24-0
  • Sam Curran6-2-47-1
35.6
4
Livingstone to Ravindra, FOUR, good length and turning down the leg side, Ravindra rolls out the sweep and gets it fine to take NZ closer to victory
35.5
1
Livingstone to Conway, 1 run, floated up outside off, Conway stays back and smashes it to mid-off
35.4
4
Livingstone to Conway, FOUR, rank long-hop on leg stump, duly dispatched. Conway rocks on the back foot and pulls it away to the square-leg fence. 150 up for Conway. Williamson and Co. are up on their feet to applaud Conway. What a player
35.3
2
Livingstone to Conway, 2 runs, tossed up and outside off, seems like the legbreak. Conway slog-sweeps it between deep midwicket and long-on
35.2
4
Livingstone to Conway, FOUR, tossed up outside off, Conway sees the wide line and reverse-sweeps it away between the keeper and short third. Another top shot from Conway

Afeef: "During England's innings, it felt like NZ's fielders are everywhere. While in New Zealand's innings, it feels like England's fielders have disappeared."

35.1
1
Livingstone to Ravindra, 1 run, legbreak, turning into Ravindra, who skips back and pulls it along the ground to deep midwicket

END OF OVER:
35 | 20 Runs | NZ: 265/1 (18 runs required from 15 overs, RR: 7.57, RRR: 1.20)

  • Devon Conway140 (116b)
  • Rachin Ravindra117 (93b)
  • Sam Curran6-2-47-1
  • Moeen Ali9-0-58-0
34.6
4
Curran to Conway, FOUR, muscled away to the left of Root at long-on this time. Slower ball, short and into the pitch, the line is outside off. Conway sits back, waiting for it, then powers it away down the ground. He continues to show his range
34.5
2
Curran to Conway, 2 runs, hauled away to deep midwicket
34.4
2
Curran to Conway, 2 runs, Conway stays leg-side of this shortish ball outside off and carts it away wide of sweeper cover. Livingstone slides and cuts it off in the deep
34.3
2
Curran to Conway, 2 runs, slower and into the pitch, hacked away to Brook at deep midwicket. Conway hares back for the double
34.2
4
Curran to Conway, FOUR, back-of-a-length slower ball outside off, back-of-the-hand variation, Conway delays his slap and hits it between extra-cover and mid-off. Bam!
34.1
6
Curran to Conway, SIX, pumped over Root at wide long-on for six more. NZ are rushing to victory. Length ball on off, not sure if it was the slowie. Nevertheless, Conway sizes it up and dispatches it

8.27pm Hello, again, everyone. Cheers Miller. This has been some partnership from Conway and Ravindra. NZ are just 38 runs away from a memorable win in this WC opener. Can England somehow separate the two Wellington boys?

END OF OVER:
34 | 11 Runs | NZ: 245/1 (38 runs required from 16 overs, RR: 7.20, RRR: 2.37)

  • Rachin Ravindra117 (93b)
  • Devon Conway120 (110b)
  • Moeen Ali9-0-58-0
  • Sam Curran5-2-27-1

Well, crumbs. It's been a total and utter pasting. Here's Deiva to apply the gloss finish.

33.6
2
Ali to Ravindra, 2 runs, rocks around the corner to lift a pull to backward square. That will be drinks. Make England's a stiff one!
33.5
2
Ali to Ravindra, 2 runs, on the back foot, slapped hard down the ground, Livingstone commits to a sprawling dive, proper commitment, but ultimately it's all in vain tonight
33.4
6
Ali to Ravindra, SIX, massive! Lots of air from Moeen, dipping in his arc, Ravindra drops to one knee and muscles his slog-sweep up into the stroke!
33.3
0
Ali to Ravindra, no run, slapped into the covers, no way through there
33.2
1
Ali to Conway, 1 run, dragged to the on-side, one bounce to long-on

He's the fastest Kiwi to make a World Cup hundred, and he's also the youngest. What a night!

33.1
0
Ali to Conway, no run, on the back foot, hacked to short cover

END OF OVER:
33 | 8 Runs | NZ: 234/1 (49 runs required from 17 overs, RR: 7.09, RRR: 2.88)

  • Rachin Ravindra107 (89b)
  • Devon Conway119 (108b)
  • Sam Curran5-2-27-1
  • Moeen Ali8-0-47-0
32.6
4
Curran to Ravindra, FOUR, loopy slower-ball, right out of the back of the hand, but Ravindra picks this early, waits for it to land, and spanks his drive clean through long-off!

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