New Zealand v England: Guptill puts England to sword

Martin Guptill’s unbeaten 103 led New Zealand to a comfortable five-wicket win over England in the first one-day international at Lord’s yesterday.

Man-of-the-match Guptill shared a third-wicket partnership of 120 with Ross Taylor which laid the platform for the touring side to chase down a target of 228 with 3.1 overs to spare.

“We gave ourselves every opportunity by the way we bowled and fielded and then Martin played a fantastic 
innings,” New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum said. “We have an experienced team and the way we counter-attacked was pleasing.”

England started well after being put into bat, skipper Alastair Cook and Ian Bell sharing a smooth opening partnership of 45. But Bell, on 18, edged Tim Southee through to wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi and the captain fell in identical fashion for 30. Jonathan Trott and Joe Root repaired the damage with a third-wicket stand of 67 before England lost three wickets in quick succession.

Root was bowled for 30 trying to reverse sweep spinner Nathan McCullum. Trott, on 37, was caught at deep mid-wicket off McCullum and Eoin Morgan top-edged Mitchell McClenaghan to Ronchi to leave the hosts at 126 for five.

Chris Woakes made 36 and Tim Bresnan 25, but 227 for nine was a disappointing total for the hosts.

New Zealand made a terrible start in reply, losing two wickets in James Anderson’s first over. Ronchi was caught by Graeme Swann at slip and Kane Williamson was brilliantly taken one-handed by wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.

But Taylor and Guptill produced the best batting of the day, both striking a succession of crisp boundaries. Guptill clipped Woakes through mid-wicket to reach his 50 and he lofted Swann over mid-off for the second of four sixes in his innings. Taylor crashed another four through point off Woakes to get to his half-century but Anderson made the breakthrough when the right-hander, on 54, inside-edged a catch to Buttler.

Swann bowled Grant Elliott for 27 and Brendon McCullum fell for five but Guptill reached his third one-day century with a pull for four off Bresnan which took New Zealand to their target.

It was a setback for England ahead of the Champions Trophy on home soil starting next week. “I don’t think it was a wake-up call,” Cook said. “I just didn’t think we got it right today.”

The second match in the three-game series is in Southampton tomorrow.