Opener Devon Conway made a superb unbeaten knock of 152 while Rachin Ravindra played an aggressive knock of 121 as New Zealand recorded an easy 9-wicket win over England in the opening World Cup game played at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad yesterday.

It was a fine batting display by Conway and Ravindra as the pair put on an unbroken 273-run second wicket stand to beat the defending champions and reached their target of 283 runs in 36.2 overs. Conway made 152 in 121 balls with 19 fours and 3 sixes while Ravindra hit an explosive knock of 123 in 96 balls packed with 11 fours and 5 sixes.

Rachin Ravindra, who played his first World Cup match, was named the Man of the Match. England were invited to bat first with openers Jonny Bairstow and David Marlan adding 40 runs in 7.4 overs. Marlan, first to depart, scored 14 in 24 balls with 2 fours. Paceman Matt Henry made the breakthrough for New Zealand and wicketkeeper Tom Latham took a comfortable catch in the 8th over. During the first Power Play, England were 51 for 1 wicket with a positive net run rate of over 5 runs over. The experienced Bairstow made a solid knock of 33 in 35 balls with 4 fours and a six but was sent back to the pavilion by leg spinner Michell Santner in the 13th over.

The 32-year-old Joe Root used his experience to build up the innings reaching his half century in 57 balls which was the first half-century of this World Cup while Skipper Jos Buttler made 43 in 42 balls with struck 2 fours and 2 sixes as England reached 150 runs in 27th over (162 balls) with a decent run rate.

Root on 77 runs, attempted to play a high-risk shot and was clean bowled by Glenn Phillips in the 42nd over. England were 229 for 7 wickets at that stage. However, New Zealand bowlers fought back strongly against the English batsmen in this opening game.

Mitchell Santner and part-time off-spinner Glenn Phillips made good spells to cause some damage to the English side in the middle part of the innings.

Matt Henry was the most successful bowler taking 3 for 48 in his ten-over spell while spinner Mitchell Santner took 2 for 37 in 10 overs and part-timer Glenn Phillips who bowled only three overs took 2 wickets.

The second game between Pakistan and Netherlands will be played today (6) in Hyderabad.