The Cricket World Cup is well and truly underway with some big results coming in since the tournament began on Thursday.
Reigning champions England were humiliated in their first match as they were well beaten by New Zealand who won by nine wickets.
Jos Buttler’s side put up a score of 282 which could have been enough to win if it was not for the superb batting of Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra.
Amongst the torrid bowling display of England was former Worcestershire spinner Moeen Ali who gave away 60 runs from a costly 9.2 overs with no wickets.
England’s standout players on the day by far were Joe Root who picked up 77 runs and Sam Curran who delivered their only wicket.
Former Gloucestershire player Glenn Phillips picked up two wickets in the game with former Worcestershire players Mitchell Santner and Matt Henry also getting two wickets each.
England now turn their attention to Bangladesh on Tuesday where Buttler’s side will need to pick up a win to get their campaign up and running.
Elsewhere South Africa set a new World Cup record of the most runs in an ODI match with 428 against Sri Lanka in an emphatic win.
That was not the only record that was set in the match as batsmen Aiden Markram beat the previous record for the fastest century in the competition, a record that was previously held by former Gloucestershire and Ireland player Kevin O’Brien.
Hosts and tournament favourites India also got off to winning ways in a comfortable victory against Australia as they won by six wickets.
Pat Cummins’ side produced a dismal batting display, being bowled out for 199 with the most runs coming from the ever reliant Steve Smith with 46.
Take nothing away from the superb bowling and fielding display from India though with the standout performer being Ravindra Jadeja who took the vital wickets of Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey.
Former Gloucestershire bowler Paul van Meekeren was in action for the Netherlands on Friday as his side fell to defeat at the hands of Pakistan who won by 81 runs.
Van Meekeren, whose Gloucestershire contract was not renewed at the end of the 2023 season picked up just one wicket from six overs and seven runs from 12 balls when at the crease.
The former Gloucestershire duo of van Meekeren and Phillips are back in action currently as New Zealand take on the Netherlands.
Phillips was caught out for just four runs off of four balls in the first innings where the Black Caps scored 322 runs whilst van Meekeren put in an improved bowling display with the vital wickets of Will Young and Daryl Mitchell.
