Read the article of New Zealand vs England 1st ODI 1991 - England tour of New Zealand 3-match one-day international series of the 1st ODI match played between England and New Zealand at Lancaster Park, Christchurch in 09th February 2025.
Allan Lamb, Robin Smith's sixties and Alec Stewart's run-a-ball 40 before Martin Bicknell's three-for helped to England narrow 14-run victory over New Zealand, despite a Ken Rutherford - Chris Harris' fighting fifties and take a 1-0 lead in a see-saw game of the ODI.
England scored 230-7 in 50 overs with top scorer by Robin Smith struck 65 off 95-balls including 6-fours & a six.
Allan Lamb cracked a 61 off 62-balls including 6-fours, Alec Stewart hit a run-a-ball 40-runs included five boundaries and Graham Gooch scored 17 off consuming 66-balls contained two boundaries.
New Zealand best bowler by Chris Pringle picked up 3-wickets, Richard Petrie took 2-wickets and one for Willie Watson.
New Zealand scored 216-8 in 50 overs with top scorer by Ken Rutherford struck 77 off 111-balls, Chris Harris hit 56 off 77-balls including 4-fours.
John Wright hit 27 off 28-balls including 5-fours and Andrew Jones scored 17 off 30-balls included two boundaries.
England best bowler by Martin Bicknell picked up 3-wickets, Angus Fraser, Phil DeFreitas and Eddie Hemmings each took one-wickets.
Ken Rutherford named Player of the match for his fighting knock of 77 off facing 111-balls including five boundaries.
This match reported by The Canberra Times Staff (Third Party Reference from The Canberra Times)
England beat New Zealand by 14 runs in the first one-day match of a three-match series.
England won the toss and batted first on a Lancaster Park wicket that was helping the bowlers, scoring 7-230 despite losing three of its top-order batsmen cheaply.
Allan Lamb and Robin Smith rescued England after David Gower had gone for four, Mike Atherton for a duck and Graham Gooch for 17.
Lamb and Smith took the score to 130 before Lamb was run out in a mix-up which left him stranded at the wrong end. But he had scored 61 in 62 balls and Smith went on to make 65 with Alec Steward adding 40.
New Zealand made a good start until captain Martin Crowe spooned a simple return catch to Martin Bicknell and went for 13.
Defeat hinged on that wicket and two disas trous run outs. Andrew Jones and Jan Smith went to suicidal calls and New Zealand's tailenders were not up to a challenge which ended with them needing 16 off the last over of the match.
The innings ended on 8-216 despite desperation batting at the end. Ken Rutherford had anchored the New Zealand innings and made 77 before he was caught by Gooch off Bicknell.
: