Match 1: Pool A. Played at Hagley Oval Chrischurch, New Zealand
New Zealand 331 /6 (CJ Anderson 75, BB McCullam 65, KS Williamson 57, MJ Guptill 49, L Ronchi 29*, G Elliot 29, BMAJ Mendis 2/5, RAS Lakmal 2/62) beat Sri Lanka 233 All Out (HDRL Thirimanne 65, AD Mathews 46, K Sangakkara 39, TM Dilshan 24, CJ Anderson 2/18, DL Vettori 2/34, T Soujthee 2/43, AF Milne 2/56 and TA Boult 2/64) by 98 Runs
It is 14 February 2015. It is Valentines Day. There could not be a better day to start the cricket world cup. Two lovely cities of the world Christchurch and Melbourne launched the event. Kiwis crashed Sri Lanka in the game one while Australia was looking strong favorites when this report was posted. It could not any sweeter than home team New Zealand winning the first match very comfortably.
New Zealand, one of the hot favorites for winning the World Cup 2015 made a very strong statement in the opening match of the tournament with a thumping 98runs win against strong Sri Lanka. The match was played at Hagley Oval in the City of Christchurch devastated by a massive earthquake a few years back. New Zealand and Sri Lanka are in pool A along with Australia, England, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Scotland. New Zealand also started very strongly in 1992 when World Cup was held only other time in the Southern Hemisphere. They lost only two matches in the tournament –both times against ultimate winner Pakistan. This time Kiwis looks stronger and eager for winning their first ever world cup.
Winning the toss and putting New Zealand in to bat by Angelo Mathhews on a green grass covered wicket under cloudy sky on a chilly day could not be disputed. But New Zealand made planned assault on the two main strike Lankan bowlers Malinga and Kulasekara. Pacing their innings very smartly Kiwis posted a defendable target for the Lankans in a very crucial opening match for the home side. The tone of the match was set by confident Kiwi captain McCullam striking Malinga for 23 in his fourth over. The slinger Malinga was not allowed to settle to his usual line and length in his first major international match after return from injury. McCullam struck 10 fours and a six in his 49 balls 65 and put the innings on a solid platform with a 16 over 111 runs first wicket partnership with Guptill (49). Mendis took a good catch off Herath at the fence to remove McCullam. Otherwise Kiwis could be flown out of Lankan sight by the brave pilot. Unfortunately Sangakkara could not hold on to a sharp edge from Williamsons bat on the very first ball he received from Lakmal. This lapse made Sri Lanka pay dearly. Willamson and Taylor steadied the innings with 57 runs third wicket partnership before leg spinners Mendis dealt two vital blows removing Williamson and Taylor off successive deliveries. At 4/193 parity seemed to have been restored. But that was not to be .Sri Lankan pacers even after staying in New Zealand for a considerably long time failed adjust their length. Malinga was hammered for 84 runs in his comeback spell after injury and Kulasekara conceded 78. Neither got any wicket. The most successful Lankan bowler Mendis bowled only two overs. Lankan attack looked too thin and smart Kiwis batting made it look very ordinary.
Sri Lanka started with a very stiff target against a determined Kiwis attack in a seaming friendly condition. The opening stand looked steady. Dilshan and Thirimanne put on run a ball 67 before Dilshan was foxed by old guard Vettori with a cleverly concealed slower delivery. Things were looking good when Thirimanne and Sangakkara were cruising along. But vital strikes by Boult and Vettori pegged them back reducing them to 4/129 by 25th over. With top four including Dilshan, Sangakkara and Jayawardene already gone the only hope was some magic from captain Mathews. He tried his best but even his best was not enough. Kiwis set target remained well beyond the reach. A very disciplined kiwis bowling crushed. Sri Lanka got all out 233 conceding a huge 98 runs defeat to New Zealand.
New Zealand had very strong all round bowling performance with five bowlers each getting 2 wickets. Corey Anderson (75 runs of 77 balls) for his brilliant batting and 2/18 won the man of the match. This win puts New Zealand in a comfortable position. While all is not lost yet in a long tournament for Sri Lanka.
BDST: 1323 HRS, FEB 14, 2015
