CARDIFF — A truly majestic maiden ODI century from Harry Brook was not enough to prevent England from slipping to a four-wicket defeat against New Zealand in the first one-day international at Sophia Gardens.
A Faltering Start and a Lone Warrior
England, having been put into bat on a used pitch, found themselves in a familiar position of disarray at the top of the order. The returning Ben Stokes, playing his first ODI since un-retiring from the format, fell for just 3, while Joe Root managed only 6. At 101-4, the innings was in need of a saviour.
That saviour arrived in the form of Harry Brook, a player whose omission from the initial World Cup squad had been a major talking point. Dropped on 26 by Glenn Phillips, Brook made New Zealand pay with a breathtaking display of clean hitting and intelligent batting. He accelerated masterfully, transforming a precarious situation into a position of strength.
Brook's innings of 135 from just 116 balls was a masterclass, featuring:
- 11 fours and 5 sixes
- A devastating assault on the spin of Rachin Ravindra and Mitchell Santner
- A crucial 88-run partnership with Jos Buttler (30) and a blistering 74-run stand with Liam Livingstone
His century, brought up with a flick off his pads, was met with a roar of approval from the Cardiff crowd and a relieved celebration from the batter himself. Speaking after the innings, Brook was understandably delighted, stating: "It was nice to get a few runs and finally get that first ODI hundred."
The Lower Order Folds
However, from a commanding 210-4 in the 35th over, England's innings lost its way dramatically following Brook's dismissal, caught in the deep off Ravindra. The last six wickets fell for a mere 38 runs, with the hosts bowled out for 291 with 26 balls still remaining in their innings.
The collapse highlighted a continued concern for England's batting depth. New Zealand's seamers, led by the impressive Tim Southee (2-71) and the debutant pace of Ben Lister (3-69), expertly exploited the older ball and ran through the tail. England captain Jos Buttler lamented the finish, saying: "We should have got 340, 350 on that wicket. We lost wickets in clusters and that cost us."
New Zealand's Chase: Conway and Young Lay the Foundation
In reply, New Zealand's chase was built on a magnificent 180-run opening partnership between Devon Conway and Will Young. The pair looked utterly untroubled by England's new-ball attack of Chris Woakes and Sam Curran, picking off boundaries with ease and rotating the strike efficiently.
Conway, in particular, was in sublime touch, cruising to a 73-ball 80 before being stumped off Moeen Ali. Will Young continued to anchor the innings, registering a well-compiled 84 from 97 deliveries. Their partnership effectively took the required rate down to a comfortable level, leaving the middle order with a straightforward task.
A Late Flicker of Hope for England
Just as the game seemed to be slipping entirely from England's grasp, they sparked a mini-collapse of their own. Liam Livingstone, with his part-time leg-spin, removed Young and Glenn Phillips in quick succession. When Daryl Mitchell fell for 12 to Brydon Carse, New Zealand were 233-4 and a hint of pressure began to build.
The experienced duo of Tom Latham and Mitchell Santner then steadied the ship with a composed 48-run partnership. But when Latham (27) holed out to long-on off Adil Rashid, and Santner (13) was caught behind off Carse, New Zealand had lost 4 wickets for 54 runs and were 274-6, needing 18 from the final four overs.
The Finishing Blow from Rachin Ravindra
Any lingering English hopes were extinguished by the young all-rounder Rachin Ravindra. Having endured a tough day with the ball, he redeemed himself spectacularly with the bat, smashing a rapid, unbeaten 39 from just 27 balls. He sealed the victory with 26 balls to spare, launching Gus Atkinson for a huge six over deep mid-wicket.
New Zealand captain Tom Latham praised his team's resilience in the chase: "The way the two boys at the top set the platform was fantastic. To keep taking wickets throughout and then finish it like Rachin did was brilliant."
Post-Match Reflections and Looking Ahead
For England, the defeat raises questions despite the obvious positive of Brook's knock. The fragility of the middle and lower order, once the team's great strength, is a clear area for improvement. The bowling, too, lacked penetration with the new ball on a pitch that offered little assistance.
The match also served as a vital data point for both teams with the World Cup just weeks away. For New Zealand, the clinical nature of their chase and the performance of their openers will be hugely encouraging. For England, the conundrum of how to fit the in-form Brook into a World Cup starting XI has now become even more pressing.
Player of the Match Harry Brook summed up the mixed emotions in the England camp, telling Sky Sports: "It's obviously a nice personal milestone, but it's a team game and we wanted to win. We were probably 30 or 40 runs short in the end."
The teams now travel to Southampton for the second ODI of the four-match series at the Ageas Bowl on Sunday, with England needing a swift response to level the series and New Zealand looking to press home their advantage.