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Defending champions England got their World Cup defence off to the worst possible start as New Zealand comprehensively beat them by nine wickets.

The Black Caps won the toss and put defending champions England into bat. Jos Buttler’s men made a solid enough start, but stand-in captain Tom Latham bowled the right bowlers at the right time.

Joe Root (77), wasn’t supported well enough by anyone at the other end, despite Buttler’s 43. There were plenty of starts, but no one went on to score a big hundred.

That’s what New Zealand did, and this is what made the telling difference in this game.

Although Will Young was out with the seventh ball of the game, Davon Conway (152 off 121) and Rachin Ravindra (123 off 96), helped New Zealand get to their target at a canter.

So not the start England would have wanted, but with this only being the first game, there is still plenty left to play for.

Jos Buttler’s England take on Bangladesh and Kane Williamson’s Black Caps are up against the Netherlands.

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