England’s hopes of starting their New Zealand tour with victory were dashed as the Black Caps claimed a four-wicket win in the first One-Day International (ODI) at Mount Maunganui — despite a stunning century from captain Harry Brook, who struck a breathtaking 135 off 101 balls.
The 26-year-old’s masterclass, filled with fearless strokeplay and 11 towering sixes, rescued England from an early collapse and gave them a fighting total of 223 all out in 35.2 overs. But dropped catches and disciplined Kiwi batting — led by Daryl Mitchell (78)* and Michael Bracewell (51) — ensured New Zealand chased down the target with 13.2 overs to spare, reaching 224-6.
England Collapse Early Before Brook’s Brilliance
England’s innings began in chaos. Jamie Smith was bowled by Matt Henry with the first ball of the match, and within two overs the tourists slumped to 5-3, losing Joe Root (2) and Ben Duckett cheaply in testing, seaming conditions.
At 33-5, England looked destined for humiliation. But Harry Brook, showing composure beyond his years, launched a counterattack of astonishing quality. After being hit on the body three times early on, he steadied himself and unleashed a flurry of boundaries once set.
Brook’s 50 came from 36 balls, and with Jamie Overton (46 off 54), he added a vital 87-run partnership to rescue England. Even after the tail folded around him, Brook farmed the strike expertly, hammering three consecutive sixes off Jacob Duffy to bring up his century — his highest ODI score, surpassing his previous best of 110*.
His audacious hitting — including seven sixes in the final-wicket stand with Luke Wood (10)* — lifted England from despair to a respectable total. Brook ultimately scored 60.5% of England’s runs, placing him among the top 15 highest individual contributions in ODI history.
New Zealand Overcome Early Wobbles
In response, New Zealand endured their own nervy start as England pacer Brydon Carse produced a lethal new-ball spell. Carse dismissed Kane Williamson, Will Young, and Tom Latham in quick succession, reducing the hosts to 66-4 and sparking real hope for England.
However, two dropped catches proved costly. Root spilled Michael Bracewell on 2, and Luke Wood failed to hold a simple chance from Daryl Mitchell on 33 — moments that shifted the momentum irreversibly.
Mitchell and Bracewell capitalized, adding a composed 92-run partnership that steadied the chase. Bracewell’s counterpunching 51 and Mitchell’s unbeaten 78 ensured the Kiwis crossed the line comfortably at 224-6 (36.4 overs), taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Harry Brook’s Knock Among England’s Best
Although the result went against England, Brook’s innings will be remembered as one of the finest in English ODI history.
He faced world-class bowling under relentless pressure, managing a false-shot percentage of just 22.3%, compared to 33.6% from the rest of the team. His balance between aggression and control was exemplary, targeting both square and straight boundaries with effortless power.
“It was a do-or-die moment,” Brook reflected. “We didn’t start well, so I tried to counterattack and thankfully it came off. I’ve done it before, but this one means a lot.”
England’s Batting Concerns Before the Ashes
While Brook thrived, other senior batters endured a nightmare outing. Root, Duckett, and debutant Jamie Smith managed only four runs combined, raising concerns ahead of the upcoming Ashes series.
The trio, returning to competitive cricket after a six-week break, struggled to adapt to the lively Mount Maunganui surface. Debutant Zak Foulkes (4-41) and Matt Henry exploited the movement expertly, swinging the new ball at nearly 2 degrees, far above average conditions at the venue.
England’s next two ODIs — and a single warm-up match in Australia — are now their final chances to regain rhythm before the Test series begins on 21 November.
Carse Strengthens His Case for Ashes Selection
Bowler Brydon Carse was one of the few positives for England. His ability to extract bounce and seam movement impressed both pundits and selectors, as he removed three of New Zealand’s top four with precision.
Carse’s deliveries — particularly his hard-length balls that cut into right-handers — are ideally suited for Australian conditions. His 3-45 was a reminder that he could play a pivotal role in England’s pace attack later this winter.
Captain’s Perspective and Reaction
Harry Brook, reflecting on the loss, praised New Zealand’s discipline but emphasized England’s fighting spirit:
“We didn’t start well with the bat, but we showed character. If we had taken our chances in the field, the result could have been different. We’ll regroup and come back stronger in Hamilton.”
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner lauded his side’s new-ball bowlers and the middle-order partnership:
“Henry and Foulkes were outstanding. They swung the ball beautifully. We lost a few more wickets than ideal, but the intent was there — Daryl and Michael’s stand was massive for us.”
What’s Next
England trail the series 1-0 and must regroup quickly before the second ODI in Hamilton on Wednesday (01:00 GMT). With Brook in imperious form but the rest of the top order struggling, England’s batters will be desperate to find runs before the Ashes warm-up series begins.
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