The Blackcaps' Cricket World Cup campaign has been set alight, with a spectacular nine-wicket victory over England in the tournament opener at Ahmedabad.
After restricting England to 282/9 batting first, the Blackcaps walked their target down with more than 10 overs remaining, with the scorecard built on a 273-run partnership between Devon Conway (152 not out) and Rachin Ravindra (123 not out).
What's more, the victory came without two of New Zealand's all-time greats, with both captain Kane Williamson and senior bowler Tim Southee watching on from the sidelines through injury.
As stand-in captain Tom Latham won the toss and opted to bowl first, his decision was vindicated by regular strikes throughout England's 50 overs.
Only Joe Root (77) passed 50 among England's batters, while the pair of Matt Henry (3/48) and Mitchell Santner (2/37) were exceptional in conditions that proved to be favourable for batting in.
Chasing 283, the Blackcaps' innings hit an early speed bump when Will Young was dismissed for a golden duck, caught behind by England captain Jos Buttler off the bowling of Sam Curran.
But from there, though, the partnership of Conway and Ravindra took over.
Batting in place of Williamson at No.3, Ravindra dominated the scoring by adding 38 of the partnership's first 50 runs, and needed just 36 balls to tick off his half-century.
Conway joined him on 50, also taking 36 balls, as the 100 partnership was raised in only 75 deliveries.
As the milestones kept falling, including the 150-run stand in only 117 balls, Conway was the first to reach three figures, doing so for the fifth time in ODI cricket.
At the other end, Ravindra passed 100 for the first time in any international format, with his coming in 82 balls, with nine fours and four sixes.
Conway went one better to bring up 150 for the first time in ODIs, as England's total never stood a chance.
The Blackcaps are next in action on Monday night (NZ time), facing the Netherlands in Hyderabad.
England 282/9 (Root 77; Henry 3/48)
New Zealand 283/1 (Conway 152 not out, Ravindra 123 not out; Curran 1/47)
New Zealand win by nine wickets
