Couldn't find way to break that partnership: England skipper Buttler on losing by 8-wickets against NZ

Centuries from Conway and Mitchell helped New Zealand start off the four-match ODI series with a thumping eight-wicket win over England at Cardiff on Friday night. Conway and Mitchell added 180 partnership to guide their for comfortable win.

After the match, Buttler said, "Disappointing. Halfway I thought we had a decent score. Most of us were finding it difficult to time the ball. Just couldn't find a way to break that partnership. We tried most things. For a little period we built pressure nicely. Strung some good overs. But Mitchell played a few big shots and got it away from us again. Impetus Livingstone gave to the innings got us to a score that I thought was over par. Have to look after a few people the way the schedule is. But also want to play good cricket."

Coming to the match, New Zealand opted to bowl first. England got off to a solid start with 80-run partnership between Harry Brook (25 in 41 balls, with two fours) and Dawid Malan (54 in 53 balls, with nine fours). England then sunk to 101/3.

Then an 88-run stand between Buttler (72) and a returning Ben Stokes (52 in 69 balls with three fours and a six) and a 77-run partnership between Buttler and Liam Livingstone (52 in 40 balls, with three fours and three sixes) helped England reach 291/6 in 50 overs.

Rachin Ravindra (3/48) and Tim Southee (2/71) were the pick of the bowlers for NZ.

In the chase of 292, openers Devon Conway and Will Young (29) helped NZ get off to a solid start, forming a 61-run stand. Then followed a 56-run partnership between Conway and Henry Nicholls (26 in 30 balls, with three fours).

After England reduced NZ to 117/2, Conway (111* in 121 balls with 13 fours and a six) and Daryl Mitchell (118* in 91 balls with seven fours and seven sixes) dismantled the English bowling with their hitting, forming a match-winning 180-run partnership.

Conway was adjudged as the 'Player of the Match' for his century. (ANI)