In the World Cup 2023 opening game between England and New Zealand, the English batters created history at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday. This is the very first time in the history of 50-over cricket, that all the 11 batters have scored in double digits in an innings. The former England skipper starred with the bat with a well-made 77, other batters Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali made 11 each which is the lowest total by a batter in the England innings in Ahmedabad.

The English team were asked to bat first after New Zealand skipper Tom Latham won the toss at the Narendra Modi Stadium. England opener pair of Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow built a 40-run stand before getting out.  The kind of start the English batters got, they failed to score a big total. Malan got out against Matt Henry who took the first wicket to fall in the World Cup 2023. 

English opener Jonny Bairstow also departed after making 33. Harry Brook also went out cheaply on a score of  25 from 16 balls to left-arm spinner Rachin Ravindra. New Zealand’s Glenn Philips got the procedure wicket of Moeen Ali and Joe Root and put pressure on English batters.

“Brilliant, obviously they got off to a flyer, but our spinners and seamers in the middle overs brought us back in the game, restricting them to 280 was pleasing. When Stokes was rested, one left-hander was taken out, but Latham used his other options well,” Phillips said after his bowling effort. 

Skipper Jos Buttler however played at attacking knock of 42-ball 43 after coming in to bat at No. 6 but Matt Henry snared him in the 34th over. England somehow managed to post a total of 282 in 50 overs, kudos to the crucial contributions from the likes of Chirs Woakes, Adil Rashid, and Mark Wood.