Kiwis trounce Sri Lanka in World Cup Cricket 2015 opener

New Zealand beats Sri Lanka by 98 runs

 Match One:-  New Zealand vs Sri Lanka at Hagley.

New Zealand beats Sri Lanka by 98 runs.

Co-hosts New Zealand flexed their muscles by earning a convincing 98-run victory over 2011 finalists Sri Lanka in the ICC World Cup opener at the Hagley Oval here Saturday.

After they were put to bat first New Zealand displayed their all-round skills, first scoring a mammoth 331/6 and then bowling out Sri Lanka for 233 in 46.1 overs to begin their Group A campaign with a bang.

Although  Sri Lanka got off to a good start with Lahiru Thirimanne (65) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (24), scored 67 runs for the opening wicket. Ex-captain Kumar Sangakkara (39) Thirimanne added another 57 runs to take Sri Lanka to 124/1 in 21.5 overs. Even now,  the 1996 Cup winners were in the game and in with a good chance to chase down the imposing target. However, Thirimanne’s dismissal signalled a major collapse and led to a string of wickets and Sir Lanka succumbed to the  Black Caps’ domination.