Jonny Bairstow in action for England during the 2023 Cricket World Cup© AFP
Jonny Bairstow on Thursday became the first batsman in history to open a Cricket World Cup with a six in the opening match between England and New Zealand. It was the first goal of the tournament as Bairstow comfortably smashed a Trent Boult delivery over fine-leg for a six. However, England were unable to score big as New Zealand bowlers led by Matt Henry controlled them to 282-9 despite Joe Root’s 77. New Zealand invited England to bat first in the world’s largest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad, where the English lost their talisman. Ben Stokes due to a hip injury.
First runs of the #icccricketworldcup2023 & that too with a SIX 6⃣ …
England started the Bazball way#ENGvsNZ #ICCCricketWorldCup #Ahmedabad #NarendraModiStadium pic.twitter.com/ddyNAfYHyL
— SRKxVIJAY (@Srkxvijay) October 5, 2023
England lost regular wickets as batsmen failed to convert their starts into bigger scores, but Root stood out to post a key stand of 70 with skipper Jos Buttler, who made 43.
Firepower was lacking for the rest of the innings against a Kiwi attack that missed Tim Southee, but kept coming back for the champions in a rematch of the 2019 World Cup final as England won a draw on the boundary count at Lord’s.
Henry returned figures of 3-48. Spinners Mitchell Santner and Glenn Phillips took two wickets each.
Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow gave England a smooth start but the Kiwi bowlers soon removed the openers to take control of the game on a sunny afternoon in front of a few fans in the 132,000 capacity arena.
Malan fell behind to Henry and Bairstow’s strike was broken up by Santner, who dismissed the batsman for 33 after his left-arm spin.
Harry Brook took on Rachin Ravindra in the left-arm spinner’s first over and hit two fours and a six before the bowler took revenge on the final delivery.
Brook, who came into the starting line-up ahead of Stokes, attempted another big hit but was caught deep at mid-wicket.
Root raised his 37th ODI half-century off 57 balls peppered with two fours and one six from a reverse scoop shot.
But he fell to Phillips’ off-spin as he tried to complete a reverse sweep and England slipped further before Adil Rashid and Mark Wood ensured the team played their 50 overs.
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