New-look England scored more than 400 runs in a one-day international for the first time on its way to a 210-run win over New Zealand in the first match of the series on Tuesday.
Joe Root (104) and Jos Buttler (129) smashed two of England’s quickest-ever centuries as the team blasted its highest ODI total of 408-9, shrugging off the conservative approach that has held back its 50-over side in recent years.
New Zealand was dismissed for 198 in 31.1 overs, with Steven Finn and Adil Rashid both taking four wickets. “They blew us off the park,” New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum said. “It was the complete performance by England.”
The victory signaled a remarkable turnaround from the recent Cricket World Cup, when the Black Caps thrashed England in a group game by eight wickets with 226 balls to spare on its way to the final. England didn’t advance from its group, but has changed its mindset to the 50-over game by selecting more attacking players. It has paid immediate dividends.
McCullum won the toss and chose to put England into bat, a decision he later acknowledged was a mistake.
Trent Boult removed Jason Roy with the first ball, but Root spearheaded England’s fightback with some aggressive batting, alongside Alex Hales (20) and captain Eoin Morgan (50).
England wobbled from 171-2 to 202-6, with Morgan falling before Root, Ben Stokes (10) and debutant Sam Billings (3) went swiftly. Buttler then revived his team’s innings with a stunning knock, hitting 13 fours and five sixes to wilt New Zealand’s bowling attack with 129 runs from 77 balls.
Buttler already has England’s fastest century to his name, from 61 balls, and this one came off 66 to make it the country’s second quickest. Rashid assisted Buttler with 69 and the duo put on 177 for the seventh wicket — a world record in one-day cricket — to help England eclipse its previous record of 391 against Bangladesh in 2005.
New Zealand’s reply started poorly when Steven Finn bowled McCullum (10) and then lured an edge behind from Guptill (22). After Kane Williamson departed to Rashid, a fourth-wicket stand of 66 between Taylor and Elliott hinted briefly at a lasting chase.
Brief Scores
England: 408/9 (Root 104, Buttler 129, Rashid 69; Boult 4/55) beat
New Zealand: 198 ( Taylor 57, Williamson 45; Finn 4/35, Rashid 4/55) by 210 runs.