New Zealand beat England by 4 wickets within the first ODI at Mount Maunganui on Sunday. New Zealand hunted down the goal with 13.2 overs to spare.
New Zealand’s chase of 224 was shaky at first, dropping three fast wickets, however Michael Bracewell’s 51 and Daryl Mitchell’s unbeaten 78 steered them to a four-wicket victory. England will probably remorse dropping catches, notably these of Bracewell and Santner, which finally proved expensive.
Brydon Carse struck early, eradicating Will Younger and Kane Williamson in consecutive deliveries, after which Luke Wooden dismissed Rachin Ravindra, leaving New Zealand reeling at 24/3.
Tom Latham counter-attacked, preserving the scoreboard transferring till Carse trapped him lbw, ending a 42-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Mitchell. Carse’s spectacular opening spell included six overs, setting the tone for England’s dominance.
Bracewell joined arms with Mitchell, and the duo stitched a match-winning partnership. Each of them notched up their fifties as they added 92 runs for the fifth wicket at a run-a-ball. Bracewell ran himself out, however Mitchell remained unbeaten until the tip to take his crew over the profitable line.
England’s first innings ended abruptly at 223. New Zealand’s bowlers dominated the early levels, decreasing England to 56–6, with Zakary Foulkes claiming 4 wickets. A resilient 87-run partnership between Harry Brook and Jamie Overton steadied the ship till Overton fell for 46.
Brook was in chic kind and decimated each question New Zealand threw at him. When he was dismissed, he had scored 135, together with 11 sixes, and England crossed the 220-run mark, which at one level regarded practically inconceivable.
The English captain did not succumb to the mounting strain and launched a counterattacking knock to blow the Kiwis away. He blazed to his fifty in 36 deliveries within the sixteenth over of the innings and remained unbeaten at 85 off 73 when Adil Rashid fell on the ultimate ball of the thirtieth over.
Brook then raised a 57-run stand with Luke Wooden for the final wicket. In the course of the partnership, Brook smashed 50 off 28 to rejoice his second ODI tonne and end with a career-best 135 (101) after he holed out to Nathan Smith off his counterpart Mitchell Santner.
Brook was named participant of the match for his brilliance with the bat.
Temporary scores: England 223 (Harry Brook 135, Jamie Overton 46; Zakary Foulkes 4/41). Vs New Zealand 224/6 (Daryl Mitchell 78*, Michael Bracewell 51; Brydon Carse 3/45).