Harry Brook’s stunning hundred came in vain as England paid the price for abysmal batting overall and lack of catching in their four-wicket loss to New Zealand in the first one-day international at Mount Maunganui.
England captain Brooke (135 off 101 balls; 11 sixes and nine fours) accounted for 60.53 per cent of his side’s 223 runs in 35.2 overs, with Jamie Overton (46) the only player to reach double figures and Sam Curran the third top scorer with six.
The extra (17) was more than the combined innings of six of England’s top seven, with Jamie Smith (0) – bowled by Matt Henry off the first ball of the match – Ben Duckett (2), Joe Root (2), Jacob Bethel (2), Jos Buttler (4) and Curran dismissed for 12 after overs in the 1 5 tourists’ Slum-6. is inserted.
In reply, England reduced New Zealand to 24-3 in five overs – Brydon Carrs (3-45) inflicting Kane Williamson’s first ODI golden duck – but the missed losses eventually cost the tourists as the hosts triumphed with 80 balls to spare – Daryl Mitchell (78no out 91-6).
Michael Bracewell (51 off 51) was spilled for two by Root at slip and Mitchell on 33 off Luke Wood at backward point during a fifth-wicket stand of 92, while Kars caught Mitchell Santer (27 off 25) for two at deep fine leg.
The Black Caps take a 1-0 lead into the second ODI in Hamilton on Wednesday (1am UK) before the series concludes in Wellington next Saturday, with England then fully focused on Ashes series in Australia from November 21.
If England are to reclaim the urn from Australia, you feel Brooke will have to play a major role – and without him against New Zealand on Sunday, it would be a disaster.
Brooke – who scored each of his first 36 runs at the boundary – put on 87 from as many balls with Overton for the seventh wicket after the rest of the senior batsmen were flustered, then made 50 from 28 deliveries as he added 57 from 32 with last man Wood (5).
More to come…
Brook hit 11 fours and nine sixes in his rescue mission at Bay Oval