Conway, Ravindra hit tons as New Zealand thrash champs England
The opener hit 152* and Ravindra 123* with their record unbroken stand carrying the team to a nine-wicket win.
The bar had been set so high by the 2019 World Cup final that it was going to be virtually impossible for England and New Zealand to recreate that magic four years on. As it turned out, it ended up being a lop-sided affair on the opening night of the 2023 ODI World Cup at Ahmedabad on Thursday. Only this time, defending champions England were given a hiding as New Zealand chased down 283 runs in the 37th over for a nine-wicket win with 82 balls to spare.
Expect the genial Kiwis not to go overboard or say they exacted revenge. But they showed determination. Devon Conway (152* -- 121b, 19x4, 6x3) and Rachin Ravindra (123* -- 96 b 11x4,5x6) - with South African and Indian roots - came out attacking with such ferocity that England simply didn’t know how to respond.
Batting without fear is more an England trait. That’s how they intimidated opponents after the 2015 World Cup, ever since they decided that when in doubt attack. Under lights in front of a neutral Ahmedabad crowd largely detached from the proceedings, Kiwi batters came out with a similar attacking mentality.
“We were given the licence to attack. But we did it our way,” said Ravindra after the match. While the unbroken 273-run partnership between Conway and Ravindra knocked England out, it was nice that there was a sprinkling of New Zealand supporters in attendance, including many from the players’ families.
Unlike England, New Zealand got off to a blazing start, bringing up their 100 in the 13th over. After Will Young was strangled down the leg-side first ball bowled by Sam Curran, in the second over of the innings, left worked just right for the Kiwis. Conway has shown from his IPL and ODI careers to be an anchor who can explode yet look elegant in everything he does. All those qualities were there to see. Ravindra, 23, who wouldn’t even have played had Kane Williamson been fit, matched him shot-for-shot.
The warm-up games may have been excess to requirement for many. But they helped Ravindra. His 97 against Pakistan in the warm-up game at Hyderabad helped him seal his place. With his all-round skills, he has made a solid case not just to keep his spot, but also to potentially play a crucial role in this campaign.
England’s fast bowlers didn’t have things going their way. Chris Woakes wasn’t able to find any swing, Chris Wood’s pace wasn’t troubling. As it became evident that the ball wasn’t gripping like it did during the first innings, the New Zealand left-handers began to take a toll.
The ease with which Ravindra took the heat off a steaming Wood, planting his foot forward for the drive when possible and launching into back-foot pulls with equal ease, Sachin Tendulkar, in attendance, would have been impressed. Rachin’s name borrows 'Ra' from Rahul Dravid and 'chin' from Tendulkar.
While Conway showed no bias towards any shot or scoring region, many of Ravindra’s boundaries targetted the mid-wicket region. The two took New Zealand past 200 in the 27th over. By then their duet was so rhythmic that all that remained to seen was who would end up with more runs. Until they were in their 70s, they went neck and neck. Conway then switched gears and raced to 100. Like synchronised partnerships go, Ravindra pushed on and raced past 100 four overs later.
“Any hundred is special. But to be able to do it in India with my roots and to have parents watching was cool,” Ravindra said. “Being a left-hander, I would watch Brian Lara and others, but Tendulkar is definitely my idol.”
Ben Stokes, who would in the early drinks break come with suggestions for Buttler to undo his CSK teammate Conway, ran out of ideas as the batting duo drove on.
Earlier, much before the crowds arrived, England’s batting began at a sedate pace after being put in. After 10 overs, they were 51/1, almost a demonstration of old-fashioned ODI cricket that England had moved away from.
Harry Brook, a late inclusion in the England side, tried to change things. In the 16th over bowled by left-arm orthodox Ravindra, he went 4-4-6 targetting the mid-wicket boundary. But he would chance his arms once too often to be caught in the deep. As the cameras panned, Stokes, sitting out due to fitness issues, looked annoyed.
In build up to this World Cup, unlike the last one, there haven’t been any statements of bravado from the England camp that they could touch 500. They never found the batting momentum on a slow surface to get anywhere close to a big total. The innings was held together by Joe Root’s 77 (86b, 4x4, 1x6) and his fifth wicket partnership 72 (70b) with Buttler.
New Zealand’s 23 overs of spin also gave an account of how the ball could grip the surface under the sun, only for the pitch to ease as the match progressed. Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner (10-0-37-2) and off-spinner Glenn Philips (3-0-17-2) were the pick of the New Zealand bowlers. “We are not robots. We can’t play well all the time. We will be back,” Buttler summed up the day, revealing the hurt pride.
