The ICC World Cup 2023 kicked off with a thrilling match between England and New Zealand on October 5th, 2023. The match took place at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad, India, where over 3,000 police personnel were deployed to ensure the security of the teams and fans.
Historically, these two teams have had a closely contested rivalry. Out of the 95 ODI matches they’ve played against each other, England has won 45 times, while New Zealand has claimed victory 44 times. Four matches ended without a result, and two matches were tied. In their World Cup encounters, both teams have won five matches each, reflecting their evenly matched capabilities.
In this opening match of the World Cup 2023, England, the defending champions, faced off against New Zealand, the finalists from the last World Cup. The match started at 1:30 pm Pakistani time. England batted first, setting a target of 283 runs for New Zealand. They scored 282 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in the allotted 50 overs. Joe Root was the top scorer for England with 77 runs off 86 balls.
England vs New Zealand World Cup Match 5th October 2023
New Zealand’s bowling attack was led by Matt Henry, who took three wickets. Mitchell Santner and Glenn Phillips took two wickets each, while Trent Boult and Rachin Ravindra claimed one wicket each.
The match was not just about the players on the field, but also about the strict security measures in place. Spectators were only allowed to carry mobile phones into the stadium, with all other items strictly prohibited. This was the first of five matches scheduled to be held in Ahmedabad, including the highly anticipated India-Pakistan match on October 14th, 2023.
Both England and New Zealand boast players capable of turning the tide of the match at any moment. For England, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, and captain Jos Buttler are key players. However, star all-rounder Ben Stokes was likely to miss the first match due to injury. On the New Zealand side, Dion Conway, Kane Williamson, and Daryl Mitchell were expected to lead the batting, while Tim Southee and Trent Boult were the main threats in their bowling attack.
The opening match of the ICC World Cup 2023 set the stage for an exciting tournament, with ten teams vying for the coveted title. As the defending champions, England aimed to start their campaign on a high note, while New Zealand sought to go one step further than their runner-up finish in the previous World Cup.
