Brimingham, England — New-look England scored more than 400 runs in a one-day international for the first time on its way to a 210-run win over New Zealand in the first match of the series on Tuesday.
Joe Root (104) and Jos Buttler (129) smashed two of England's quickest-ever centuries as the team blasted its highest ODI total of 408-9, shrugging off the conservative approach that has held back its 50-over side in recent years.
New Zealand was dismissed for 198 in 31.1 overs, with Steven Finn and Adil Rashid both taking four wickets.
“They blew us off the park,” New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum said. “It was the complete performance by England.”
The victory signaled a remarkable turnaround from the recent Cricket World Cup, when the Black Caps thrashed England in a group game by eight wickets with 226 balls to spare on its way to the final.
England didn't advance from its group, but has changed its mindset to the 50-over game by selecting more attacking players. It has paid immediate dividends.
“Certainly a different performance,” England captain Eoin Morgan said. “The guys were outstanding — to come out of the traps the way we did was outstanding.”
The second of the five-match series is on Friday. McCullum won the toss and chose to put England into bat, a decision he later acknowledged was a mistake.
Trent Boult removed Jason Roy with the first ball, but Root spearheaded England's fightback with some aggressive batting, alongside Alex Hales (20) and captain Eoin Morgan (50).
Root brought up his century off 71 deliveries but only added four more runs to his fifth one-day century for England before swiping at Boult and edging behind to Luke Ronchi.
England wobbled from 171-2 to 202-6, with Morgan falling before Root, Ben Stokes (10) and debutant Sam Billings (3) went swiftly.
Buttler then revived his team's innings with a stunning knock, hitting 13 fours and five sixes to wilt New Zealand's bowling attack with 129 runs from 77 balls.
Buttler already has England's fastest century to his name, from 61 balls, and this one came off 66 to make it the country's second quickest.
Rashid assisted Buttler with 69 and the duo put on 177 for the seventh wicket — a world record in one-day cricket — to help England eclipse its previous record of 391 against Bangladesh in 2005.
New Zealand's reply started poorly when Steven Finn bowled McCullum (10) and then lured an edge behind from Martin Guptill (22).
After Kane Williamson departed to Rashid, a fourth-wicket stand of 66 between Ross Taylor and Grant Elliott hinted briefly at a lasting chase.
But Billings interrupted it with a fine bit of fielding from third man to run out Elliott and Rashid cashed in with three more wickets and even put himself on a hat-trick when Ronchi missed an attempted slog-sweep first ball.
New Zealand lost its last seven wickets for 38 runs. Finn had 4-35 and Rashid took 4-55.
