Jos Buttler topscored with 72 as England reached 291-6 in their 50 overs against New Zealand in the first one-day international at Sophia Gardens on Friday.
England captain Buttler, on his 33rd birthday, led the way on an awkward pitch in Cardiff as four England batsmen passed fifty without overwhelming a disciplined New Zealand attack.
Together with the returning Ben Stokes (52), Buttler shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 88 in 17 overs after England were sent in to bat.
Liam Livingstone's typically dashing 52 off 40 balls, including three sixes, helped take England past 250 in the opening match of a four-game series.
New Zealand left-arm spinner Rachin Ravindra took 3-48 from his maximum 10 overs.
It is the first time the teams have met in an ODI since England's dramatic Super Over win in the 2019 World Cup final at Lord's.
They will face each other again in the first match of the World Cup in Ahmedabad on October 5.
Harry Brook was given another chance to push his World Cup claims after being drafted in as opener alongside Dawid Malan following injuries to Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow.
He was left out of the provisional squad for next month's 50-over title defence in India.
But it was Malan who dominated an opening stand of 80 before being bowled off his pads for 54 by Ravindra.
Brook fell for a subdued 25 in the next over when he gloved a Lockie Ferguson bouncer to New Zealand captain and wicketkeeper Tom Latham.
Joe Root, returning to England duty for the first time since the Ashes, struggled to six off 15 balls before he miscued a slog-sweep off Ravindra.
His exit left England 101-3 in the 21st over.
Buttler and Stokes consolidated, with England's limited-overs skipper completing a 48-ball fifty.
Stokes, in his first ODI since reversing his retirement from the format ahead of the World Cup, went to the landmark with a six over midwicket off Ravindra.
But the bowler had his revenge next ball, when Stokes slapped him to cover to leave England 189-4 in the 38th over.
Livingstone, caught in the deep off a Ferguson no-ball on 40, holed out off Tim Southee's slower ball and the veteran seamer also dismissed Buttler.
But his last ball of the innings was smashed over long-on for six by David Willey.