England v New Zealand, 2015

At Birmingham, June 9 (day/night). England won by 210 runs. Toss: New Zealand. One-day international debuts: S. W. Billings; M. J. Santner.
The series opener spectacularly confounded its tag line as World Cup finalists versus World Cup flops. England's 408 for nine, including 38 fours and a record 14 sixes, was both their highest total(beating 391 for four against Bangladesh at Trent Bridge in 2005) and the highest conceded by New Zealand (beating India's 392 for four at Christchurch in 2008-09). By bowling the New Zealanders out for 198 - with almost 19 overs to spare - England also achieved their largest win by runs. After Roy had fallen to the first delivery of the match, slicing Boult to backward point, Root's 104 off 78 balls and Buttler's incendiary 129 off 77 produced Roman-candle wagon wheels.

It was the first time two players had made centuries in a one-day international innings without batting together. Root's high-class, unflustered century, from 71 deliveries, was England's third fastest - but only for as long as it took Buttler to get there in 66, second only to his own 61-ball hundred against Sri Lanka atLord's the previous summer. Four wickets had fallen for 31 to leave the innings at a crossroads on202 for six after 30 overs, but Rashid, who went on to his maiden international fifty, helped Buttler in a raucous world-record seventh-wicket stand of 177 inside 18 overs. Only Boult had any impact.

Needing to score at more than eight an over to scale the Himalayas, New Zealand never reached base camp. McCullum went in the first over, charging at Finn, and Taylor alone reached 50. With Rashidmaking clever use of his googly to add career-best figures with the ball - and the best by an England leg-spinner - the last six wickets fell for 13. A kitchen fire at Edgbaston the day before the game,reportedly caused by burning peppers, had led to the evacuation of the England dressing-room, and several staff were treated for smoke inhalation.Man of the Match:J. C. Buttler.