New-look England flatten NZ

BIRMINGHAM: Jos Buttler and Joe Root thrashed brilliant centuries in England’s highest One-day International score on the way to a 210-run rout of New Zealand in the first game of the series at Edgbaston on Tuesday (partly reported in Wednesday’s edition).

New Zealand, who thrashed England in February on the way to finishing as World Cup runners-up, made a stuttering start to their reply -- chasing a mammoth 409 -- when Steven Finn bowled Brendon McCullum (10) and the paceman also accounted for Martin Guptill (22).

Kane Williamson (45) and Ross Taylor (57), who needed treatment after Morgan hit him on the hand with a shy at the stumps, tried to carry the fight to England.

But needing to keep up with a growing run-rate, New Zealand lost Mitchell Santner and Luke Ronchi to successive deliveries from leg-spinner Adil Rashid and any lingering hopes of an unlikely victory ended in the next over when Finn trapped Taylor lbw.

Rashid completed a memorable match with a googly which flummoxed Matt Henry to return figures of four of 55 and Finn claimed four for 35.

Earlier, Rashid hit 69 in new-look England’s total of 408-9 which included 14 sixes.

Buttler walloped a blistering 129, sharing a world record seventh-wicket ODI stand of 177 with Rashid.

The omens had not looked good for the hosts when opener Jason Roy fell to the first ball of the day.

But an aggressive Root, first with Alex Hales (20) and then Eoin Morgan (50) led a recovery, taking the attack to New Zealand with the ball flying to all parts of Edgbaston.

Root’s hundred came off 71 balls before he fell for 104.

Scoreboard

ENGLAND:

J. Roy c Guptill b Boult0

A. Hales c Henry b Boult20

J. Root c Ronchi b Boult104

E. Morgan lbw b McClenaghan50

B. Stokes b Boult10

J. Buttler c Henry b McClenaghan129

S. Billings lbw b Santner3

A. Rashid c Guptill b Elliott69

C. Jordan c Boult b Elliott2