New Zealand beat England by 4 wicket in 1st ODI:Daryll Mtchell, Zakary Foulkes shine for Blackcaps, Brydon Carse bags three wickets; Harry Brook awarded POTM

New Zealand began their ODI series against England with a convincing four-wicket victory at Mount Maunganui on Sunday. Chasing a target of 224, the Kiwis reached the mark with 13.2 overs to spare, thanks to strong performances from Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell. England looked in control early after reducing New Zealand to 24 for 3, but missed chances and a resilient middle-order fightback turned the game in the hosts’ favor. Mitchell’s unbeaten 78 off 90 balls and Bracewell’s 51 off 55 balls helped New Zealand recover and seal the win comfortably in the end. Earlier, England’s innings was rescued by Harry Brook’s brilliant 135, which lifted them from a disastrous start to a fighting total of 223. However, New Zealand’s all-round effort ensured England’s total was not enough on the day. With this win, New Zealand took a 1-0 lead in the series and will look to carry the momentum forward in the upcoming matches. Also read: KKR likely to appoint Abhishek Nayar as new head coach: Former Mumbai all-rounder to take charge after underwhelming IPL 2025 season- Report England collapse despite Brook’s 135-run knock England’s top order crumbled under the pressure of New Zealand’s disciplined bowling. Zakary Foulkes led the charge, taking four wickets, as the visitors were left struggling at 56 for 6. It was then Harry Brook and Jamie Overton who brought England back into the contest with a gritty 87-run stand for the seventh wicket. Overton fell for 46, but Brook continued his assault on the Kiwi bowlers. He struck 11 sixes in a breathtaking display of power hitting, reaching his second ODI century off just 101 balls. Brook added 57 runs with Luke Wood for the final wicket before being dismissed for 135. His effort earned him the Player of the Match award, despite England’s loss. New Zealand recover from early blows Chasing 224, New Zealand got off to a shaky start. Brydon Carse struck twice in one over, dismissing Will Young and Kane Williamson, while Luke Wood removed Rachin Ravindra, leaving the hosts in deep trouble at 24 for 3. Tom Latham and Daryl Mitchell added 42 runs to steady the innings before Latham was trapped lbw by Carse. From there, Mitchell and Michael Bracewell built a crucial 92-run partnership for the fifth wicket, guiding New Zealand back into control. Also read: Rohit Sharma celebrates 50th international ton – WATCH: Kohli silences critics with statement fifty; gets standing ovation from SCG Bracewell’s run-out briefly gave England hope, but Mitchell stayed calm, anchoring the chase to see New Zealand home. His unbeaten 78 was a testament to his composure and skill under pressure. Missed chances cost England England’s fielding lapses, including dropped catches of Bracewell and Mitchell Santner, proved costly. The missed opportunities allowed New Zealand to regain momentum and complete a comfortable chase with more than ten overs to spare.