On this day in 2015: Root, Buttler help England thump NZ by 210 runs

After a horrendous 2015 World Cup campaign, the England team needed a resurgence and the series with New Zealand completely transformed them in white-ball cricket. A new era began with this ODI series for the English side as they never looked back from there. They met the Kiwis in a five-match series in June 2015 at home and the first match laid the foundation of their ODI revival.

On June 09, 2015, skipper Brendon McCullum won the toss and the Kiwis elected to field first at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Pacer Trent Boult got rid of both the openers Jason Roy and Alex Hales for zero and 20 respectively as the hosts were 50/2. The ever-reliable Joe Root joined hands with captain Eoin Morgan as both stitched a 121-run partnership.

The latter got dismissed for 50 runs but Root kept going. All-rounder Ben Stokes also became a victim of speedster Boult as he fell for just ten runs. Wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler then came into the middle and it was just carnage thereafter. Root slammed 104 off 78, which included 13 fours and two sixes while Buttler hammered 129 off just 77 with the help of 13 fours and five maximums.

Root brought up his fifth century in the ODI format as power-hitter Buttler achieved his second ton. Spinner Adil Rashid also made 69 as England finished up with a massive total of 408/9 in 50 overs. It was the first time the English side had managed to reach the 400-runs mark in the 50-overs format. Boult was the pick of the bowlers for the Kiwis for his spell of 4/55 in ten overs.

In reply, Ross Taylor top-scored for New Zealand with his 57-run knock with Steven Finn and Rashid both picking up four wickets each. The visitors got bundled out for just 198 runs to lose the match by a huge margin of 210 runs. Buttler won the Player of the Match award with England starting their ODI domination from this encounter seven years back.