New Zealand beat England comprehensively – first ODI

New Zealand 7-259 (Kane Williamson 74, Brendon McCullum 69*, Chris Woakes 2-52) beat England 258 (Jonathan Trott 68, Ian Bell 64, Joe Root 56, Mitchell McClenaghan 4-56) by three wickets.

A fine team effort led from the front by Brendon McCullum, brought New Zealand a much deserved victory against the mighty England in the 1^st ODI.

England scored 258 runs before they were bowled out in 49.3 overs and the Black Caps powered 259 runs with three wickets in hand and seven balls to spare.

The first One Day International of the three match series was played on Sunday, February 17, 2013, at Seddon Park, Hamilton.

Brendon McCullum, the captain of New Zealand, won the toss and sent England in to bat first. The visitors lost their first wicket at 11 when their skipper, Alastair Cook, was clean bowled by Mitchell McClenaghan for just four runs. Jonathan Trott got together with Ian Bell who hit 3 fours in the 7^th and 8^th over and the next four overs produced just five runs. Bell was dropped at 26 by BJ Watling off Nathan McCullum on the fifth ball of the next over and he hit the first six of the innings in the 14^th over.

Ian Bell attained his 25^th ODI fifty by hitting another six and one four in the 20^th over as Trott scored 18 runs off 37 balls until then. The pair enhanced the partnership to 95 in 24 overs as Bell was gone for 64 off 79 deliveries with 2 sixes and 6 fours. Joe Root was the next batsman in who opened his account with a four. Trott opened up in the 30^th over with a couple of fours and completed his 19^th ODI half century two overs later with another four. Root kept on cruising from his end and added 2 fours in the 38^th over as the stumps of Jonathan Trott were broken by Kyle Mills for 68 off 90 with 6 fours.

Joe Root took over and continued marching ahead as the wickets kept on crumbling from the other end. He reached his second ODI fifty in the 42^nd over and became the next victim for 56 from 64 balls comprising 4 fours as the innings of England came to an end at 258 with three balls still left.

Mitchell McClenaghan was the most successful bowler with four wickets, James Franklin held three, Kyle Mills two and Andrew Ellis claimed one wicket.

The Black Caps did not have a good start either as the first batsman surrendered at just two runs when Kane Williamson joined in with Martin Guptill. The first hit 2 fours in the sixth over as Guptill was retired hurt in the same over and was replaced by Ross Taylor. Williamson was the most aggressive of the two as Taylor preferred to take his time to settle in and hit his first four on the 26^th ball he faced. The duo took the score to 72 after 19 overs as Ross Taylor was caught by Steven Finn at fine leg off Chris Woakes for 22 runs. Grant Elliott became the next mate of Kane Williamson who got his fourth ODI half century in the 24^th over and the first hundred of the innings was posted on board in the 26^th over.

The third wicket fell at 124 in 29.2 overs when Elliott surrendered for 22 runs as Brendon McCullum appeared on the scene. Kane Williamson was unluckily run out for 74 off 99 with 6 fours after the addition of 18 runs to the total. Brendon McCullum decided to take charge of the situation with a little assistance from the other side from the incoming batsmen. He dispatched the first six of his innings in the 36^th over and accumulated 15 runs two overs later with 1 six and 2 fours. The skipper continued his onslaught by hitting another 2 fours in the 42^nd over and managed his 22^nd ODI fifty in the 44^th over.

Brendon McCullum was dropped by Trott off Steven Finn at 51 in the next over as Martin Guptill got 1 six and 1 four in the 47^th over. Both batsmen hit 1 six and 4 fours in the next two overs and reached the target by scoring 259 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 48.5 overs. Brendon McCullum remained unbeaten for 69 off 61 balls with 3 huge sixes and 6 fours whereas Martin Guptill was at the other end at 27 from even balls with the assistance of 1 six and 4 fours.

Chris Woakes was the top wicket taker with two whereas James Anderson, Steven Finn, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann shared one wicket each.

New Zealand won the first One Day International by a margin of three wickets and leads the series 1-0. The second ODI of the three match series will be played on February 20, 2013, at McLean Park, Napier.