NZ Win the Toss and Bowl First
ICC Men’s Cricket Worldcup officiates without opening ceremony and here we go to the live action of the tournament. The Finalists of the 2019 ODI WC: England and New Zealand meet at Ahmedabad, India for the opening match of the CWC23, India. A number of 45 matches will be played in this round-stage with each team playing 9 games.
Hopefully, rain isn’t in the forecast today therefore, cricket lovers can anticipate a thrilling encounter between these two teams in the opener. Will ENG opt their bazball strategy or NZ compel them to shift to plan-B. Everything is on card and we’ll find the answers to all of the questions shortly.
Earlier in the game, Williamson, who is injured, let Latham be the skipper for the opening game of the ICC Worldcup 2023. Jos Buttler, English skipper joins Ravi Shastri in the middle for the coin-battle. Tom Latham wins the toss and elected to bowl first. Interestingly, Buttler too wanted to bowl first but lost the toss.
Interesting, NZ land with 5-allrounders while ENG go with 4-allrounders. Apparently, it seems that both teams are equally balanced sides. Let’s see who gets and upperhand with all three departments in ENG vs NZ 1st Worldcup Match Live.
NZ’s Playing XI
1 Devon Conway, 2 Will Young, 3 Rachin Ravindra, 4 Daryl Mitchell, 5 Tom Latham (capt/wk), 6 Glenn Phillips, 7 Mark Chapman, 8 James Neesham, 9 Mitchell Santner, 10 Matt Henry, 11 Trent Boult
(No Souther, Sodhi and Ferguson alongside Williamson)
ENG’s Playing XI
1 Jonny Bairstow, 2 Dawid Malan, 3 Joe Root, 4 Harry Brook, 5 Jos Buttler (capt/wk), 6 Liam Livingstone, 7 Moeen Ali, 8 Sam Curran, 9 Chris Woakes, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Mark Wood
(Leaving out Stokes, Atkinson, Topley and Willey)
Jonny Bairstow and David Malan open the innings for England whilst Trent Boult gets the ball in hand for his opening spell.
ENG off to a flying start as Bairstow welcomes Boult with a six butt Matt Henry too begins with a maiden.
Jonny Bairstow and David Malan provide 40 run stand for the opening partnership when he edges the ball to the keeper’s hands. Joe Root joins the other opener for the quest of making runs. Bairstow adds 32 off 30 striking at 107 besides Malan who’s caught behind at 14 off 24.
Overall, England manage to score 51 in the powerplay with 5.1 RR and score six 4s and only 6 in the mandatory power play. On the other hand, NZ giveaway 2 extras as well while utilising their 3 bowlers. Meanwhile, Boult concedes 21 in his 3 overs spell with an economy of 7 whereas Henry bowls the tight spell with 21 runs in 5 overs with an economy of 4.2 getting one wicket as well. Mitcell Santner is the third option introduced in the power play while conceding 9 in his 2 overs.While Joe Root stands on 4 off 7.
