England vs New Zealand, World Cup 2023 Highlights: Devon Conway-Rachin Ravindra smack tons as NZ humble ENG by nine wickets

“We seem to come together so well in world tournaments and probably one of the reasons we seem to always punch above our weight,” 2015 World Cup hero Grant Elliot had told The Indian Express of New Zealand's record at world cups. 

He'd go on to suggest, if anything, having less spotlight on the team as compared to the likes of India, Australia and England helps. “No spotlight on the team and individuals…always under the radar and no following circus of press to jump on every false comment or mistake in the field.”

It's what has happened tonight in Ahmedabad. All the talks around that 2019 world cup final and England's aggressive style of play, and the Black Caps - missing skipper Kane Williamson - have delivered an absolute humbling in the 2023 opener. Shush now, for they thrive without the spotlight.

The scores are level, no super over on the horizon though. Rachin Ravindra gets the winning runs and Kane Williamson and the rest in the dugout shake hands. A STATEMENT FROM THE BLACKCAPS WITH A NINE WICKET WIN! They've chased down 283 inside 37 overs with nine wickets in hand. My oh my! The world champions, undisputed world champions of the white-ball format have been rammed down in Ahmedabad.

My word. So much for the 2019 World Cup final rematch. This has been anything but close. Absolute pasting of the defending champs. Another over with three boundaries and the England fielders have stopped bothering to run after the ball now. Two runs away from a win.

Sam Curran continues and so does the onslaught from the Kiwis. Devon Conway lofts him for a six over mid wicket, which went miles up in the air before it landed across the boundary, followed by a slap off the back foot that runs through mid off for four. They've made it look all so easy tonight. Wraps up the over with another boundary and England's player of the tournament at last year's T20 World Cup win has been taken down here. 20 runs from the over! 265/1 on the scoreboard.

Rachin Ravindra: off 82 balls (today)

Devon Conway: off 83 balls (today)

Moeen Ali has conceded 58 runs off his nine overs. The all-rounder has been seen as a big plus for England in a subcontinent World Cup but as of today he has no wicket to show for it and Rachin Ravindra has taken him to the cleaners. Slog sweeps a tossed up delivery for another maximum. 11 runs come from the over. 245/1 after 34 overs.

Sam Curran returns into the attack and Rachin Ravindra reads his slower one and waits patiently before fetching a boundary down wide long off. Eight off the over. The world champions are being humbled here. 234/1 after 33 overs.

Ravi Shastri at his vocal best. 'Aise pitch ko treat kiya hai jaise highway hai (He's scored on this pitch as if it's highway).' This, on Devon Conway's innings.

Rachin reminds the former India coach of Yuvraj Singh. "That backlift. Do teen spinners ko turn ke against maar rha hai jorr se (He's hitting the spinners fiercely, against the turn)." 

Harbhajan Singh also heaps praises of the other centurion for New Zealand. 'He'll now be looked at as the next big thing. Big innings from him.'

Four runs come off the over. 226/1 after 32.

#Karnataka #WorldCup2023 #CricketWorldCup2023 #ENGvNZ
Rachin Ravindra, #Bengaluru boy playing for #NewZealand scores century against #England in his first world cup match. Rachin parents are from Bengaluru is grandson of Dr. TA Balakrishna Adiga, a noted biology faculty. pic.twitter.com/ue6EP6y7i4

— Express Bengaluru (@IEBengaluru) October 5, 2023

Scoring 49 on his ODI debut earlier this year in March, Ravindra impressed with the bat against England last month. The Lord's ODI was lost but a new hero was earned in the Black Caps jersey.

And here he is. Just the one run away from a first hundred in ODIs in his first ever ODI World Cup match. A loud roar rings around the venue as he gets his single off Liam Livingstone and celebrates the milestone. Named after Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar, the Kiwi forges a name of his own on the big stage.

Devon Conway wraps up the over with back-to-back boundaries. New Zealand are 222/1 after 31 overs.

England have tried it all. The bowling department has looked out of sorts and what Gautam Gambhir said a little while ago on the broadcast also seems to be true. "Batting has gotten easier under the lights."

Liam Livingstone has been brought into the attack. Just the one run off his over. Conway takes a single to keep the strike. Rachin Ravindra awaits his special moment. 209/1 after 29 overs.

Moeen Ali offers a short one and Rachin Ravindra goes deep in his crease before smacking it down wide long on for four. The boundaries continue to flow and it's just a matter of time before New Zealand close the game. England have gotten a taste of their own medicine. Ravindra gets to 97. 208/1 after 28 overs.

Conway pulls it down to short fine leg and gets a single to bring up the first century of the 2023 ODI World Cup. His first in World Cups. Gets his helmet off and whips the bat to celebrate a magnificent knock. The milestone has barely softened him. Out comes a slash through covers off Mark Wood for four. 

200 also up for New Zealand as the 27th over comes to an end. 

Conway keeps the anticipation ongoing. Just a single from him to keep the strike and move to 99 at the end of Rashid's over. Meanwhile, Rachin Ravindra has also entered into the 90s. Together, the two have stitched the highest partnership for New Zealand in World Cup history. 192/1 after 26 overs.

Speak of the devil, Mark Wood is back into the attack. Little change in the rhythm though. Devon Conway finds another boundary. 142kph but the opener has managed to get it over mid wicket fielder for four. He gets to 98. 187/1 at the halfway stage.

"Look at the quality of those shots. Nothing has been across the line," says Gautam Gambhir on the Star Sports hindi broadcast. One that stands out for the southpaw is Rachin Ravindra's pull to Mark Wood for six. It gives away the insane form he's been in of late. Rashid gives just two off the next over. 178/1 after 24 overs.

Rachin Ravindra! OH MY GOD!

What a shot that is. Chris Woakes from round the wicket, straight and full but slow. The southpaw has read it like a George RR Martin book and clamps onto it with a strong bottom hand to dispatch the ball for a straight six. 176/1 after 23 overs as New Zealand cruise towards 283.

Rashid has been given another go. There's sharp turn on offer but both the NZ batters have been in for a while and it is going to take either a disastrous lapse of concentration or a peach of a delivery to remove them. Six runs off the latest over. 168/1 after 22.

Pace, spin, it doesn't matter to these two at the moment. Conway is upping the ante. Full and outside off from Woakes and Conway straight drives it for a picturesque four. A free flow of the bat with a soft follow through.

Speaking of picturesque, there's an ICC interview of Rachin Ravindra being shown at the moment. He's asked of his favorite cricketer. "I'd have to say between Kohli and Kane." For someone who's promoted himself from number seven to even an opener of late and justified it with consistent scores, those choices make sense. 162/1 after 21 overs.

Adil Rashid had kept his fourth over down to just the three runs off the first five balls but Devon Conway has a crack on the last delivery. Goes down on his knees to clear the deep mid wicket boundary. 150 up for New Zealand. 154/1 after 20 overs.

A change of pace as Chris Woakes comes in. Conway and Ravindra have accumulated enough runs to take a breather. Take a few breathers infact. Just a couple of runs from that over. No need whatsoever to hurry here. 138 runs needed off 31 overs. 145/1 after 19.

Moeen Ali to Devon Conway. There's an lbw appeal. Nothing given by the on-field umpire but Buttler goes upstairs. Bad review that. The impact is well and truly outside off. England feeling the nerves here. The drinks break after 17th over saw Ben Stokes have a lengthy chat with Buttler. 143/1 after 18.

Adil Rashid continues from the other end and gifts a loopy low full toss. Rachin Ravindra accepts it with both hands, a flick through mid wicket for four. Runs continue to pour in. Eight off the over. 138/1 after 17 overs.

Moeen Ali will continue and The New Zealand batters maraude 4 runs from his first 4 balls. Conway ends the over with another boundary. Absolutely nailed. NZ 130/1 after 16 overs

Adil Rashid in the attack now and gives away just v2 from the first three deliveries. Parity restored by Conway as he slaps the fourth straight down the ground for a four before ending the over with a well placed shot through the covers for four more. NZ 121/1 after 15 overs

Moeen Ali will bowl the next one and start with just 2 from the first 3 balls. No boundaries from this over which is rare as Ali brings back some sort of semblance of sanity in the England bowling lineup. NZ 111/1 after 14 overs

Adil Rashid introduced in the attack and Conway with a single to bring up NZ's 100. Conway now with a four to get his own 50. What an innings these two have played. NZ 107/1 after 13 overs

Moeen Ali will bowl the 12th and after a couple of quiet deliveries, Ravindra smashes the veteran right out of the park for a 6!! Brings up his 50 as well. NZ 99/1 after 12 overs

Mark Wood in to bowl the 11th and Conway smokes him for a four and a six off the first 3 balls. Was almost caught but fortune favours the brave. NZ 92/1 after 11 overs

Moeen Ali in the attack now and Ravindra smashes him towards the boundary but brilliant fielding by Livingstone to keep it to just 2. Ravindra makes up for it as he pulls the 3rd for a maximum over midwicket!! NZ 81/1 after 10 overs

Mark Wood agains and Conway with a cover drive for a four to start this over. They are in a hurry to finish this one off. Takes a single next and Ravindra is back on strike. Might spell more trouble for ENG and Wood. Shirt ball and Ravindra pulls but dies not get distance. Jus over the head of Jonny Bairstow. The 5th ball is stroked past short third for another boundary. NZ 73/1 after 9 overs

Sam Curran to bwol the 8th and Conway with a boundary to start this one off. Takes a single next and Ravindra is back on strike. and he hits Curran straight as a line for four more. 50-run partnership up.NZ 63/1 after 8 overs

Mark Wood replaces Woakes and he is welcomed by Conway with a boundary. The next one yields a single as Conway brings Ravindra back on strike. Ravindra with 2 runs off the 3rd ball before smacking the fifth for a monster!! Timed the last ball to perfection and sends it for four more. NZ 54/1 after 7 overs

Curran continues and gives away 3 singles off the first three deliveries as New Zealand will be content on just seeing this over through without any incident. Ravindra with a boundary to end this one. NZ 37/1 after 6 overs 

Woakes will bowl the fifth now. Starts better this time around with 3 dots. But Ravindra has other ideas. In the air off a mistimed shot but it sails to the boundary. The over is bookended with another boundary, this time a flick off Ravindra's leg side. NZ 27/1 after 5 overs

Curran continues and there's a huge shout for an LBW. The umpire isn't interested and England opt against going for a review. Too high, they reckon. The nexr ball goes right through Conway as he's comprehensively beaten. Another maiden over by Curran. NZ 19/1 after 4 overs

Woakes continues and Conway gambles on a quick single. Almost a run out if that was a direct hit but he survives. Ravindra with a defence and then gets off the mark with a four!! Too short by Woakes next and that's punished as well as Ravindra pulls for a boundary.  NZ 19/1 after 3 overs

Cuuran in to bowl and he strikes straightaway. Young gets a little edge and that's caught behind by Buttler!!! Huge, huge moment in the match. NZ 10/1 after 1.1 overs

Wokes to bowl to Conway and he is off the mark with a boundary. Not the ideal start for the defending champs but NZ won't mind one bit. After 2 dots, the fifth one yields 2 as Conway comes back on strike. And he has driven the fifth for four more!! NZ 10/0 after 1 over

Time for the chase and the England players are out in the middle, followed by the New Zealand openers Conway and Will Young. Woakes will open England's attack.

Neesham will bowl the last over of this innings and Wood goes for a big one but falls short. Gets only a single. 5 more to go. A wide now and it's gone through the legs of Latham for some extra runs. The 3rd is dispatched for a huge six!!! Oh my!!! A single next to give the strike to Wood who takes a single of his own. Single off the last. England end at 282/9 after 50 overs

We've completed our innings and have set New Zealand 2??8??3?? to win.

? Narendra Modi Stadium#EnglandCricket | #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/9DX5jjQpDD

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) October 5, 2023

Boult to bowl his last over and starts off with just two from the first 3 balls, one of them a toe crusher. Just 5 from this over and England are 268/9 after 49 overs

On to the 48th over and Matt Henry will look to wipe out the tail of the ENG batting lineup. 3 rusn from the first 3 balls as Mark Wood and Adil Rashid  keep fighting, squeezing in some singles and twos. ENG 263/9 after 48 overs

Trent Boult now and Rashid with a single to start this over. Wood gets an inside edge and bplays it onto his pad to get another.Two more from the next three balls and the last one is a dot as a slower ball beats Rashid. ENG 258/9 after 47 overs

Matt Henry is back and Latham will now look to bowl England out. Rashid and Curran take a single each to start this over off. That's an edge and this time Curran is gone. England are in the danger of getting bowled out. ENG 252/9 after 45.4 overs

Santner in to bowl the next over and curran tries to smash him but it trickles straight to the bowler. 2 runs from the next 2 balls as England are really struggling for big hits here. Slower ball next and Woakes has played it straight to Will Young after getting a leading edge. ENG 250/8 after 45 overs

Glenn Phillips will bowl the 44th over and Woakes takes a single to start this one off. Curran cuts the next one towards backward point but it's saved by the fielder. Meanwhile, Woakes shimmies across and smashes the next ball for a boundary. ENG 247/7 after 44 overs

Ravindra will bowl the 43rd over and England are now just taking singles. The brakes have been applied to their much-heralded powerhitting by the resilient NZ bowlers. 4 from this over. ENG 239/7 after 43 overs

"Tom Latham’s captaincy has been top notch in this match. He caught the match pulse on every occasion. Brilliant bowling changes with the resources he has," tweets former India cricketer Irfan Pathan.

Glenn Phillips in the attack and he cleans Root up!! He had picked off Ali in his first over and now, he has taken the huge wicket of Root!! Goes for a reverse, ball goes under his bat and rattles the stumps. ENG 229/7 after 41.1 overs

10 overs to go go and Ravindra will bowl the first of the last few overs. Yields 2 runs from the first 2 balls. The next few balls are also peppered with singles as the over ends with just 5. ENG 229/6 after 41 overs

Right through the afternoon with the temperatures heating up, the Chepauk groundstaff have kept the pitch for India's opening match against Australia covered. And just as India are wrapping up their intense three hour practice session, the covers are coming off and we have a first look at the pitch. It is light brown in colour and looks a typical Chepauk pitch as the light roller is put to use. (By Venkata Krishna B)

On to the 40th over and Santner will bowl this one. Root defends the first one and takes a single off the second. Curran with a single as well as Root comes back on strike. Just the 3 from this over. ENG 224/6 after 40 overs

Boult in the attack again. Hasn't been his blistering best this match but he can still strike any time. Starts this one off with 3 back to back dots. Make that four as Livingstone gets a bat to it but it's straight to the fielder inside the circle. And he's gone!!! Boult strikes for the first time. The pressure was building up and a frustrated livingstone goes for a chip shot and Henry at long on can take the catch. ENG 221/6 after 38.5 overs

Neesham in to bowl the 38th over and after two dots, Livingstone with a single to go off strike. By the fourth delivery, he is back on strike and smashes Neesham for a boundary. ENG 221/5 after 38 overs

Henry again and Root with a reverse lap again to get a boundary!! Neesham dives and gets a hand to iyt but the ball still touches the rope. The Kiwi player looks disappointed but nothing he could have done. The outfield is very, very fast. 6 from this over. ENG 214/5 after 37 overs

Santner will bowl the next over and gives away 2 from the first two balls. The runs keep trickling along as the two England batters keep rotating strike. Just 5 from this one though. ENG 208/5 after 36 overs

Ravindra to bowl the 35th over and he starts with two singles. The 3rd one is flicked behind by Livingstone for a boundary. Boult chases after it but it just beats him. And what a way to bring up 200 for the World champs as Livingstone slaps the last ball over midwicket for another boundary. ENG 203/5 after 35 overs

Livingstone in to replace Buttler and he is welcomed by Henry with a bouncer that hits his helmet. He looks ok but the physio is out to check on him as is the protocol. He is good to go and goes off strike with a single.  ENG 191/5 after 34 overs