ICC WC: New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by 98 runs in opener

New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by 98 runs in the opening game of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 at Christchurch today (14).   Put into bat first New Zealand amassed 331-6 while Sri Lanka were shot out for 233 runs with 23 deliveries to spare.   The home team were aggressive from the beginning and were running strongly before losing opener and skipper Brendan McCullum for 65 at 111 in the 16th over.   McCullum faced 49 deliveries for and hit ten fours and a six.   The star of the New Zealand innings was man-of-the-match Corey and Anderson who smashed 75 off 46 deliveries inclusive of eight fours and two sixes, before returning to claim two Sri Lankan wickets.   Kane Williamson hit a 65-ball 57 with five fours and a six while opener Martin Guptill made 49 off 62 balls inclusive of five fours.   Grand Elliott and Luke Ronchi made contrasting knocks of 29 each.   Elliott faced 34 calls for his knock with two fours while Ronchi remained unbeaten after facing 19 deliveries and hitting four boundaries.   Jeevan Mendis took two quick wickets while Suranga Lakmal too claimed two scalps.   TM Dilshan and Nuwan Kulasekara claimed a wicket each.   For Sri Lanka opener Lahiru Thirimanne smashed 65 off 60 deliveries inclusive of eight boundaries while skipper Angelo Mathews followed next with a 52-ball 46 inclusive of five fours.   Dilshan faced 41 balls for his 24 which included two boundaries and Kumar Sangakkara made a 38-ball 39 inclusive of five fours.   Corey Anderson, Daniel Vettori, Tim Southee, Adam Milne and Trent Boult picked two wickets each.   Sri Lanka will face Afghanistan on February 22 at Dunedin while New Zealand’s next game will be against Scotland on February 17 at the same venue.   New Zealand 331 for 6 wickets (50) (Martin Guptill 49, Brendan McCullum 65, Kane Williamson 57, Grant Elliott 29, Corey Anderson 75, Luke Ronchi 29n.o, Jeevan Mendis 2/5, Suranga Lakmal 2/62)   Sri Lanka 233 all out (46.1) (Lahiru Thirimanne 65, TM Dilshan 24, Kumar Sangakkara 39, Angelo Mathews 46, Corey Anderson 2/18, Daniel Vettori 2/34, Tim Southee 2/43, Adam Milne 2/56, Trent Boult 2/64)