England Sets New World Record:The 2023 World Cup kicked off with a high-octane clash between England and New Zealand, a rematch of the 2019 final, at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. England, missing star player Ben Stokes due to an injury, found themselves batting first after New Zealand won the toss and chose to bowl.
The defending champions got off to an electrifying start as flamboyant opener Jonny Bairstow smashed a six on just the second ball of the tournament. Notably, this marked the first time in the history of the Cricket World Cup that the opening shot was a six.
However, England struggled to unleash their trademark explosive batting style, as the injury-hit New Zealand bowling attack effectively controlled the scoring rate. Ultimately, the Jos Buttler-led side posted a total of 280 on the scoreboard, losing nine wickets in their allotted 50 overs.
In a historic achievement, England became the first team in ODI history to have all 11 players score in double digits. This remarkable feat had never occurred in any of the 4658 ODIs played over the past 52 years.
Joe Root was England’s top scorer, staging a comeback with a solid 77 runs off 86 balls. Buttler contributed with a knock of 43 runs from 42 balls, while Bairstow added 33 runs from 35 balls. New Zealand’s Matt Henry was the standout performer with a three-wicket haul, and the ever-consistent Mitchell Santner proved his mettle, conceding just 37 runs in his 10-over spell while taking two wickets.
Glenn Phillips also made valuable contributions with two wickets in three overs, including the key dismissals of Moeen Ali and Joe Root.
In a thrilling World Cup opener, England’s achievement in setting this unique record adds an exciting chapter to the tournament’s history.