The BLACKCAPS have cruised to a seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the opening ANZ ODI at a sold-out Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
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A devastating spell of bowling from Matt Henry helped limit Sri Lanka to just 188 in the first innings, with Doug Bracewell’s 3-37 also playing a key role.
The opening pair of Brendon McCullum (55) and Martin Guptill (79) then set Hagley Oval alight, racing to 100 for none after 9.1 overs.
In somewhat of a fairytale finish to the game, local debutant Henry Nicholls got his side across the line with an unbeaten 23.
Henry Nicholls enjoyed his home debut
Having won the toss and opted to bat, Sri Lanka was put under pressure from the outset.
Adam Milne clocked in at 142kph for the first ball of the match, surpassing the 150 mark not long after.
Between Milne and Henry, the hosts had all of the Sri Lankan top five out in the single digits.
Adam Milne hit 150 kph
A much-needed partnership would be forthcoming, though, with Milinda Siriwardana (66) and Nuwan Kulasekara (58) scrapping their side from 65/6 to beyond the 150 mark.
The visitors’ batting woes weren’t over though, with both established batsmen falling within an over.
Sri Lanka was eventually all out after 47 overs with fewer than 200 on the board.
McCullum and Guptill quickly put to bed any ideas Sri Lanka might have had about salvaging a result, peppering the boundary with a batting assault.
McCullum brought up 50 off 23 balls, while Guptill overtook team-mate Kane Williamson for the most ODI runs in 2015 in world cricket.
Ross Taylor (5*) would be called upon to make a short appearance with the bat in his 300th international match, but the final say would go to Nicholls, who brought to a close his debut match with victory.
The two sides meet again on Monday at the same venue, with another bumper crowd expected.
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