England vs New Zealand 1st ODI: Conway and Mitchell scored centuries as the Kiwis registered a dominant victory over the Three Lions

Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell both scored unbeaten hundreds as New Zealand registered an eight-wicket win over England in the first one-day international in Cardiff on Friday. The Black Caps chased the 292 runs target with 26 balls remaining as they went 1-0 up in a four-match series. Opening batsman Conway was 111 not out and Mitchell 118 not out. The pair shared an unbroken third-wicket partnership of 180 in the England vs New Zealand first ODI since their agonising Super Over loss in the 2019 World Cup final at Lord's. The teams will also face each other in the first match of the World Cup in Ahmedabad on October 5.

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England vs New Zealand 1st ODI: What happened in the Match?

England:

New Zealand won the toss and decided to bowl first. England had a decent start following Dawid Malan and Harry Brook's first wicket partnership of 80 runs. Malan scored a half-century but three quick wickets changed the course of the inning. England were at 101-3 after losing none until 80 runs. Stokes happily settled back into the 50-over format - not quite at his most fluent, but still showcasing why England were so keen for him to return. After rebuilding through the middle overs, Stokes's maiden six, hauling Rachin Ravindra over square leg to reach his 50.

Jos Buttler carried along at over a-run-a-ball while carrying risk, the sort of performance that makes the England captain the consummate ODI middle-order player. Liam Livingstone's three consecutive sixes off Kyle Jamieson showed the power that he brings to the side. His 52, the second ODI half-century of his career, pushed England to 291-6.

New Zealand:

Conway & Young opened into the batting to give the Kiwis a good start but they were only able to score 60 runs for the first wicket before Adil Rashid picked up the wicket of Will Young. Devon Conway started slowly but with time, he started to threaten the English bowlers. Willey sent Nicholls to the dressing room in the 21st over but it was the last wicket England saw before getting hammered with just boundaries all over the ground.

Mitchell and Conway brought up a 180-run stand which completely destroyed England's bowling attack as they couldn't even put pressure on the batters for the rest of the inning. Daryl Mitchell struck 7 sixes and 7 fours to reach his fourth ODI century. Conway on the other side, played a supportive but important inning of 111* as he stood from the start to the very end. New Zealand chased down the total with 26 balls remaining.

"He's a quality player, he can bat anywhere," Buttler said of Brook after the match. "It's a great effort for him today, from not being in the squad at the start and now being called up for as injury cover and then parachuted in to open the batting."