The reigning champions of the ICC Cricket World Cup, England, faced a devastating loss in the opening match of the highly anticipated 2023 event held in India, as they were defeated by New Zealand. The Narendra Modi Stadium witnessed an extraordinary display of skill and dominance by Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra, who set numerous records and led the Kiwis to a resounding nine-wicket victory.
England’s batting performance was disappointing, as they managed to score a below-par total of 282/9 in their allocated 50 overs. However, amidst this disappointment, Joe Root emerged as a standout performer, delivering a record-breaking innings with 77 runs from just 86 balls, highlighting his exceptional talent and determination.
On the other hand, New Zealand’s bowlers, led by the impressive Matt Henry, wreaked havoc on the English batting lineup, with Henry achieving a well-deserved three-wicket haul, compounding England’s difficulties.
Conway and Ravindra then put on a remarkable performance in response, stealing the limelight and forming one of the most memorable partnerships in World Cup history. Unfortunately for England, this match turned out to be one of their most crushing defeats.
Let’s look into the records that were created during this unforgettable event
1. Conway delivers his fifth ODI century and crosses the 1000-run mark
Conway displayed his exceptional skills, scoring an unbeaten 152 with a remarkable 19 fours and three sixes. This stellar performance brings his total to five centuries in One Day Internationals (ODIs) and elevates his ODI career runs to an impressive 1026, averaging 54.00.
Notably, he boasts an outstanding record against England with 293 runs at an astonishing average of 97.66. Additionally, this innings represents Conway’s personal best score in ODI cricket.
2. Conway becomes the Fastest Kiwi Batsman to 1000 ODI runs for New Zealand
Conway has achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming the quickest New Zealand player to reach 1000 ODI runs in terms of innings, accomplishing this feat in just 22 innings, surpassing the previous record held by Glenn Turner, who achieved it in 24 innings.
In addition to this accomplishment, Conway has also made history by becoming the second-oldest player to score a century on their World Cup debut, achieving this at the age of 32 years and 89 days, leaving an indelible mark on cricket.
3. Record partnership for New Zealand in World Cup history
Conway and Ravindra formed an incredible unbeaten partnership of 273 runs for the second wicket against England, setting a historic record for New Zealand in the ICC Cricket World Cup. This remarkable feat now stands as the highest partnership ever recorded by New Zealand in the tournament, surpassing their previous record of 168 runs for the fourth wicket, set by Chris Harris and LK Germon against Australia in 1996.
4. Rachin becomes the third-youngest player to score a century in the World Cup
Ravindra’s promotion to number three proved to be a brilliant decision as he concluded the match with an unbeaten score of 123 runs from just 96 balls, featuring 11 fours and 5 sixes. This marks Ravindra’s second fifty-plus score in One Day International (ODI) cricket, both achieved against England. Furthermore, he has become the third-youngest player to score a century on their World Cup debut, achieving this feat at the age of 23 years and 321 days.
5. Highest partnership in England-New Zealand ODIs
Conway and Ravindra have set a new record for the highest partnership in ODIs between England and New Zealand, surpassing the previous record of 206 runs for the 3rd wicket held by Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor in June 2015. Moreover, this remarkable achievement also stands as the highest World Cup partnership against England in the history of the tournament.
6. New Zealand’s most significant World Cup win against England
New Zealand secured a resounding victory in the match, with an impressive 82 balls to spare. This remarkable achievement not only marks their biggest win against England at the World Cup but also stands as New Zealand’s most significant triumph in World Cup history when chasing a score of 250 or more.
Additionally, this victory places New Zealand in the esteemed position of having achieved the fourth-largest margin of victory against England in the history of the World Cup.
7. First-ever ODI with all 11 players of a team reaching double figures
In what was a forgettable day for England, they did set a unique record in the tournament opener against New Zealand in Ahmedabad. While batting, England posted 282/9, and remarkably, all 11 of their players reached double-digit scores, marking the first instance in one-day cricket history where every player in a team achieved this feat.
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