Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell both struck unbeaten hundreds as New Zealand cruised to an eight-wicket win over England in the first one-day international in Cardiff on Friday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Black Caps, set 292 to win, finished on 297-2 with 26 balls remaining as they went 1-0 up in a four-match series.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Opening batsman Conway was 111 not out and Mitchell 118 not out, the pair sharing an unbroken third-wicket partnership of 180 in New Zealand's first ODI against England since their agonising Super Over loss in the 2019 World Cup final at Lord's.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The teams will also face each other in the first match of the World Cup in Ahmedabad on October 5.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We thought England's score was just above par, but the bowlers did well to restrict them on that surface," said Conway at the presentation ceremony.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We just knew that if we built those partnerships it would get us over the line."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
- 'Disappointing' -<\/p>\r\n\r\n
England captain Jos Buttler marked his 33rd birthday by top-scoring for his side with 72 in a total of 291-6.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Left-arm spinner Rachin Ravindra led a disciplined New Zealand attack with 3-48.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Disappointing, at half-way I thought we actually had a pretty good score," said Buttler.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He added: "Credit to them (Conway and Mitchell), it was a fantastic partnership.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Looking ahead to the rest of the series, he said: "It's a quick turnaround so we'll give opportunities and look after guys as well.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"But we also want to play good cricket. We want to win games and we know we're up against a good team."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
England had to wait until the 11th over for a breakthrough when leg-spinner Adil Rashid bowled Will Young with his first ball to leave New Zealand 61-1.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Rashid was briefly off the field for cramp and Mitchell greeted his return with a six and a four off successive deliveries.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Left-hander Conway completed his fourth ODI hundred, off 115 balls including 13 fours.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Mitchell then hammered Rashid for 16 off three balls -- two sixes separated by a four -- as he went into the 90s before going to an 84-ball century.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Conway ended the match in style with a straight six off Liam Livingstone as New Zealand recorded their third successive white-ball win over England this tour after ending a Twenty20 series level at 2-2.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
- Buttler fires England -<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Buttler and the returning Ben Stokes (52) shared a fourth-wicket stand of 88 after England lost the toss.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Livingstone's dashing 52 off 40 balls added late impetus after opener Dawid Malan made 54 as former all-rounder Andrew Flintoff returned to the England set-up by joining the coaching staff as a mentor.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Harry Brook was given another chance to push his World Cup claims after being drafted in as opener alongside Malan following injuries to Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But Brook, left out of the provisional squad for next month's title defence in India, could only manage 25.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Instead it was Malan who dominated an opening stand of 80 before being bowled off his pads for 54 by Ravindra.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Buttler, however, completed a 48-ball fifty.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Stokes, in his first ODI since reversing his retirement from the format ahead of the World Cup, went to the landmark with a six over midwicket off Ravindra only to be caught next ball when he slapped the bowler to cover.<\/p>\r\n\r\n