<div><b><span style="font-size: 1rem;">New Zealand bowlers led by Matt Henry kept England in check to 282-9 despite Joe Root's 77 in the opening match of the World Cup on Thursday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The Black Caps invited England to bat first at the world's biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad with the English missing their talisman Ben Stokes due to a hip injury.</div><div><br></div><div>England lost regular wickets as batsmen failed to convert their starts into bigger scores but Root stood out and put on a key stand of 70 with skipper Jos Buttler, who made 43.</div><div><br></div><div>The rest of the batting lacked firepower against a Kiwi attack that missed Tim Southee but kept coming back at the champions in a rematch of the 2019 World Cup final when England won a tied match on boundary count back at Lord's.</div><div><br></div><div>Henry returned figures of 3-48. Spinners Mitchell Santner and Glenn Phillips took two wickets each.</div><div><br></div><div>Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow gave England a brisk start but the Kiwi bowlers soon removed the openers to take control of play on a sunny afternoon in front of a smattering of fans inside the 132,000-capacity arena.</div><div><br></div><div>Malan fell caught behind off Henry and Bairstow's knock was cut short by Santner, who got the batsman out for 33 off his left-arm spin.</div><div><br></div><div>Harry Brook took on Rachin Ravindra in the left-arm spinner's first over to smash two fours and a six before the bowler had his revenge on the final delivery.</div><div><br></div><div>Brook, coming in the starting line-up for Stokes, attempted another big hit but got caught at deep mid-wicket.</div><div>Root raised his 37th ODI half-century off 57 balls laced with two fours and one six off a reverse scoop shot.</div><div><br></div><div>But he fell to Phillips' off spin while attempting a reverse sweep and England slipped further before Adil Rashid and Mark Wood ensured the team played out their 50 overs</div><div><br></div><div>Brief scores: England 282-9 in 50 overs (J. Root 77, J. Buttler 43; M. Henry 3-48) - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>