CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) – New Zealand recorded an authoritative 98-run win over Sri Lanka in the Cricket World Cup’s opening game Saturday, with Brendon McCullum and Corey Anderson producing the destructive batting the co-hosts hope will carry them to the title.
Sri Lanka sent New Zealand in to bat, but soon regretted that decision as McCullum made 65 from 49 balls and shared a 111-run opening partnership with Martin Guptill (49) which set up the victory.
Kane Williamson scored 57 to hold together the middle order and Anderson blasted 75 from 46 balls with eight fours as two sixes to lift New Zealand to 331 for six.
Sri Lanka were never likely to challenge that total and were bowled out for 233 in 46.1 overs in reply.
The only bright note for Sri Lanka was Kumar Sangakkara moving up to second on the list of all-time run-makers in One-Day Internationals, above Ricky Ponting and below Sachin Tendulkar.
New Zealand 331-6 in 50 overs (Corey Anderson 75, Brendon McCullum 65, Kane Williamson 57, Martin Guptill 49; Jeevan Mendis 2-5, Suranga Lakmal 2-62). Sri Lanka 233 in 46.1 overs (Lahiru Thirimanne 65, Angelo Mathews 46, Kumar Sangakkara 39; Corey Anderson 2-18, Daniel Vettori 2-34, Tim Southee 2-43, Adam Milne 2-56, Trent Boult 2-64). New Zealand won by 98 runs.
