NZ vs ENG Review | Daryl Mitchell’s 78 overshadows Brook’s century as NZ beat England by four wickets in ODI series opener

New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner won the toss and asked England to bat first. The English side found themselves in big trouble within just 5.1 overs, losing four wickets at the score of just 10 runs. It was the young pacer Zakary Foulkes who ripped off the English top order with unplayable bowling in the initial overs. He bagged three big wickets in Ben Duckett, Joe Root, and Jacob Bethell. At one point, England was eyeing an all-out before 100, when they had lost six wickets for just 56 runs in 11.3 overs. Then came a crucial and stabilising partnership of 87 runs for the seventh wicket between skipper Harry Brook and all-rounder Jamie Overton. It was ended when Overton was caught by Daryl Mitchell off Jacob Duffy on the fifth ball of the 26th over. Furthermore, Brook played a much-needed century knock, scoring 135 runs off just 101 balls, with nine fours and 11 sixes. On the back of his amazing century, supported by Overton, England managed to post 223 runs in 35.2 overs. Zakary Foulkes shone with the ball, scalping four wickets for 41 runs in seven overs, including a maiden over, alongside three wickets picked by Jacob Duffy. Besides these two, Henry scalped two wickets, alongside a wicket bagged by Santner.

New Zealand’s run chase faced a big dent as they had lost four wickets for just 66 runs in 11.2 overs. Then came a much-needed and decisive partnership of 92 runs for the fifth wicket between Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell. This partnership ended in an unfortunate run-out when Michael Bracewell failed to make it to the crease and fell prey to Overton’s hit. Bracewell scored a run-a-ball 51 runs, with six fours. His dismissal was followed by a 49-run partnership between Daryl Mitchell and skipper Mitchell Santner (27). Mitchell went on to play a match-winning knock of 78 runs off 91 balls, with seven fours and two sixes. On the back of his knock and two crucial partnerships helped the Kiwis comfortably chase down the target in 36.4 overs, scoring 224/6. Brydon Carse scalped three wickets for just 45 runs in 10 overs, alongside a wicket each picked by Luke Wood and Adil Rashid. With this win, the Blackcaps have also taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.

Despite England’s defeat, their skipper Harry Brook won the ‘Player of the Match’ award for his brilliant 135-run knock off 101 balls, with nine fours and 11 sixes.