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Black Caps make winning start

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New Zealand kicked off the World Cup with a 98-run defeat of Sri Lanka in their Pool A match in Christchurch.

The Black Caps, who face England next up, continued their impressive run of form as they recorded a convincing win over the World Twenty20 Champions.

Brendon McCullum, Kane Williamson and Corey Anderson each hit half-centuries as the hosts posted a formidable total of 331 for six in 50 overs.

Lahiru Thirmanne and Angelo Mathews made useful contributions in reply but the target was always too much for them and they succumbed to a heavy defeat, with Anderson chipping in with 2-18 to complete an impressive all-round display.

After winning the toss, McCullum immediately set about making a statement in the competition as he took 77 from the first 10 overs with his opening partner Martin Guptill.

The Black Caps skipper was dismissed soon after reaching a half-century, caught at long-off by Jeevan Mendis for a 49-ball 65.

Corey Anderson innovates en route to an explosive 75 from just 46 balls which puts the game out of Sri Lanka's reach

With the in-form Williamson now at the crease, Guptill fell one shy of fifty when he edged Suranga Lakmal behind to bring Ross Taylor in.

Taylor and Williamson shared 57 at almost a run-a-ball, before Mendis was introduced into the attack and dismissed the pair in consecutive balls to pull the score back to 193 for four.

After Grant Elliott fell for a busy 29, Anderson and Luke Ronchi provided an explosive end to the innings . The former reached a 36-ball half-century and continued to plunder the Sri Lanka attacks as they added 106 in the last 10 overs to finish on 331 for six.

Sri Lanka made a promising start in reply, with Thirimanne and Tillakaratne Dilshan reach 67 without loss in the 13th over before a mini-collapse derailed their chase.

A spell of three wickets in two overs ripped out the heart of the middle order, with Thirimanne first going for 65, before the experienced duo of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene fell cheaply to all but end any hopes they may have had of a successful chase.

Angelo Mathews added some respectability to the score with 46, but the relenting New Zealand attack ensured a one-way game, with five bowlers each taking two each.


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