DHAKA: Sri Lanka are chasing hosts New Zealand set 332-run target to win the opening match of ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 at Hagley Oval ground at Christchurch on Saturday.
Lankans scored 75 runs for one in 15.1-over before Daniel Vettori has made a breakthrough for the Black Caps, snaring the dangerous Tillakaratne Dilshan for 24.
The new batsman for Sri Lanka is Kumar Sangakkara, who is in touching distance of two important statistical milestones. The first is that he needs 9 runs to get to 1000 WC runs, the second, and probably even more awe-inspiring, is that he needs 12 more to get past a certain Ricky Ponting to become the second-highest run scorer in ODI history.
Earlier, New Zealand scored 331-run for six in 50-overs the opening match.
CJ Anderson contributed 75 runs off 46 balls after blasting eight boundaries and two sixes.
Opener BB McCullum, who hit 10 fours and one six, added 65 runs off 49 balls.
Lankan bowlers RAS Lakmal and BMAJ Mendis bagged two wickets each while HMRKB Herath and KMDN Kulasekara picked up one wicket each.
The match started at 4:00am Bangladesh time after Lankan captain chose to bowl first as won toss.
Sri Lanka Squad:
TM Dilshan, HDRL Thirimanne, KC Sangakkara†, DPMD Jayawardene, AD Mathews*, FDM Karunaratne, BMAJ Mendis, KMDN Kulasekara, RAS Lakmal, HMRKB Herath and SL Malinga.
New Zealand Squad:
BB McCullum, MJ Guptill, KS Williamson, LRPL Taylor, GD Elliott, CJ Anderson, L Ronchi†, DL Vettori, TG Southee, AF Milne and TA Boult.
Kiwis set Sri Lanka 332-run target
BDST: 0934 HRS, FEB 14, 2015
