New Zealand began the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 with a dominating 9-wicket win over defending Champion England played at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on 5th October. After the early fall of Will Young’s wicket, Conway and Rachin Ravindra showed their class putting England bowlers under immense pressure. Ravindra timed the ball brilliantly especially against Mark Wood keeping momentum going along with Conway. At the end of the first 10 overs, New Zealand raced away to 81 for 1.
After the field restrictions, Conway and Ravindra maintained the momentum for New Zealand hitting boundaries and sixes at will. Ravindra looked in sublime touch playing his first World Cup match. Ravindra completed his fifty off just 36 deliveries keeping scoreboard ticking. Conway also looked in sensational touch with some sublime shots reaching his half-century off 36 deliveries.
Conway and Ravindra made the batting look easy on a superb batting pitch. Both batters never looked troubled as they kept hitting gaps brilliantly. Conway scored a century off 83 deliveries while Ravindra reached his milestone off 82 balls. It was a superb batting effort by both Conway and Ravindra to not England bowlers a sniff into the game. Conway completed his 150 off 119 deliveries and finished on 152. Conway and Ravindra put on unbeaten 273 runs for the 2nd wicket. New Zealand won the match comfortably by 9 wickets with 82 balls remaining.
New Zealand stand-in captain Tom Latham won the toss and decided to field first. Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow got off to a perfect start showing intent right from word go putting on 40 runs for the opening wicket. Every England batter got the start but was not able to convert into a big score. Joe Root was the top scorer with 77. Jos Buttler and Joe Root put on 70 runs for the 5th wicket before Buttler was dismissed by Matt Henry. Matt Henry was the pick of bowlers with 3 for 48 while Mitchell Santer and Glenn Phillips grabbed 2 wickets each, and Trent Boult and Ravindra took 1 wicket each.
🔸Career-best individual scores
🔸An unbeaten 273-run standRachin Ravindra and Devon Conway were in top form in the #CWC23 opener 🔥#ENGvNZ pic.twitter.com/7i8kxaoPiM
— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) October 5, 2023
Highest Partnerships in World Cup history
Marlon Samuels and Chris Gayle hold the record of highest partnership in World Cup history putting on 372 runs for 2nd wicket against Zimbabwe at Canberra on 24th February 2015.
Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid are at number 2 spot putting on 318 runs for the 2nd wicket at Taunton on 26th May 1999. Upul Tharanga and TM Dilshan occupy third spot adding 282 runs for the opening wicket against Zimbabwe at Palleke International Stadium, Kandy on 10th March 2011.
The New Zealand pairing of Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway comes at number 4th spot with an unbeaten 273 runs for the 2nd wicket in the opening match of World Cup 2023 played on 5th October at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.
David Warner and Steve Smith added 260 runs for the 2nd wicket against Afghanistan at Perth on 4th March 2015.
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