NZ Open Their Cricket World Cup in Style

“New Zealand fulfilled the hopes of a capacity crowd, celebrating another landmark in the rebirth of [Christchurch], by defeating Sri Lanka by 98 runs,” the Guardian’s Vic Marks writes. “It was a well-nigh flawless performance unaffected by the unprecedented expectations of an adoring public.”

“Captain Brendon McCullum, a resident of the city, showed the way. Opening the batting after New Zealand had been inserted under heavy cloud cover, he cracked the first two deliveries he received to the boundary and continued to bat with the fluency of a man determined to enjoy himself, whatever the expectations.

“The Sri Lankans … lacked spark or zeal in the field.

“[Daniel] Vettori bowled with characteristic cunning and that rebellious old body moved swiftly enough for him to hold a fine running catch to dispose of Angelo Mathews. Meanwhile at the other end of his career Adam Milne, a spindly fast bowler, demonstrated why he is so highly rated with two wickets in an over.

“It was a copybook victory for the Kiwis and one, which might cause some apprehension in the Scottish camp. On Tuesday [17 February] they take on the New Zealanders down in Dunedin in their first match and they will encounter a side, which is bubbling with confidence but taking nothing for granted.”

Original article by Vic Marks, The Guardian, February 14, 2015.

Photo by Anthony Phelps/Reuters.