England Crush New Zealand by 9 Wickets in 1st ODI Whitewash Starter
England launched their New Zealand tour with a devastating 9-wicket victory in the 1st ODI at Eden Park, Auckland, on January 7, 2026, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series and sending an early message of dominance. Batting first after Jos Buttler won the toss, New Zealand were bowled out for 198 in 39.2 overs, with Jofra Archer claiming 5 for 28 — his best ODI figures since 2019 — and Adil Rashid spinning a web with 3 for 32. In reply, England chased 199 in just 28.4 overs for 202 for 1, powered by Phil Salt’s unbeaten 102 off 78 balls (12 fours, 4 sixes) and Ben Duckett’s 78 off 62 (9 fours, 2 sixes). The win — England’s largest by wickets in New Zealand since 2013 — marks their sixth straight bilateral ODI triumph Down Under and sets the tone for a potential clean sweep.
Eden Park’s famous short boundaries and lively morning surface looked tailor-made for a run-fest, but England’s pace battery, aided by early cloud cover and a hint of swing, turned it into a graveyard. Buttler’s decision to bowl first was vindicated within the first hour, while New Zealand’s middle order once again failed to convert starts on a pitch that eased dramatically after the first hour. For Tom Latham, the defeat — New Zealand’s heaviest home loss by wickets since 2018 — exposes vulnerabilities without rested stars like Kane Williamson. For Buttler, it was the perfect start — England’s bowling economy of 5.03 the best by a visiting side in NZ since 2019.
England XI Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c & wk), Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid
New Zealand XI Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, Tom Latham (c & wk), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, William O’Rourke
New Zealand – 198 all out (39.2 overs) Young fell for 0 in the second over — caught behind off Archer. Conway (28) and Ravindra (38) added 62 before Mahmood bowled Conway. Ravindra reached 38 off 42 before skying Rashid. Phillips (22) and Mitchell (18) scratched, but Archer returned to blow away the tail — 5-28 in 8 overs. Rashid 3-32 finished the job.
England – 202-1 (28.4 overs) Salt and Duckett added 142 in 19.1 overs — Salt’s 102 (78 balls, 12×4, 4×6) fastest ODI ton by an Englishman in NZ. Duckett 78 (62 balls, 9×4, 2×6) fell to Santner — 142 for 1. Buttler (18*) and Brook (12*) finished with ease.
Key Moments
- Archer’s 5-28 — best ODI figures by an Englishman in NZ
- Salt-Duckett 142-run stand — highest opening stand vs NZ at Eden
- 9-wicket win — England’s largest by wickets in NZ since 2013
- 400 aggregate runs — highest in an England-NZ ODI at Eden
Player of the Match: Phil Salt (102*)
Jos Buttler: “Perfect start. Salt was unstoppable, Archer’s spell set the tone.”
Tom Latham: “Completely outplayed. Need to show fight in Nelson.”
Series: England 1–0 New Zealand Next → 2nd ODI: Saxton Oval, Nelson — January 10 (D/N)
England one win from sealing the series; New Zealand desperate for a fightback.
