After missing out on the last ODI World Cup by the barest of margins, the Black Caps have begun the next with an absolute thumping.
The 2019 runners-up this morning exacted a measure of revenge over defending champions England, delivering a nine-wicket destruction at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
The Black Caps played like they had been waiting four long years for a chance to banish the heartbreak of Lord’s, but this triumph was built by couple of batters who couldn’t call on that motivating factor.
Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra both smashed unbeaten centuries and put on a record 273 for the second wicket, helping New Zealand easily overhaul England’s 282-9.
That total seemed below par before Conway and Ravindra unleashed; a combination of tight bowling, canny captaincy and errant shot-making had seen England squander a promising platform.
But the way Conway (152no from 121) and Ravindra (123no from 96) proceeded to strike the ball, plundering 168 runs from boundaries, almost any target would have been within reach.
The Wellington pair were making their ODI World Cup bows, domestic teammates when the Black Caps were denied a maiden crown by a boundary countdown after the tied 2019 final.
Both at the time would have harboured international ambitions — Conway pursuing that goal after immigrating from South Africa; Ravindra hoping to convert the promise he had shown in age-group national sides.
But neither could have dreamed of an outing like this, coming together in the second over and ruthlessly picking apart the England attack with a relentless blend of placement and power.
Ravindra, batting at No 3 in place of the rehabilitating Kane Williamson, set the tone with a level of poise to bely his 23 years, thriving especially against extra pace while stroking boundaries square and straight.
His first name inspired by Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar, the timing Ravindra displayed was worthy of that lofty billing, scoring a maiden international ton with the Master Blaster in the building.
Ravindra raced to three figures from only 82 balls — a few overs after Conway had done likewise from 83.
