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The Cricket World Cup which begins on Saturday may be the tournament that sees the full flowering of Brendon McCullum, not only as a batsman or as New Zealand’s captain, but as a man finally comfortable in his own skin. McCullum’s feats with the bat in the past 14 months have already left little doubt he owns a place among the very best batsmen in the world, not just in one-day and Twenty20 internationals which once gave the best forum for the expression of his attacking game, but also in Tests. In 2014 he became the first New Zealander to score a test triple century, followed that with two double centuries and amassed more test runs in a calendar year than any New Zealand batsman had done before. More than that, as he toppled milestones and led New Zealand to unprecedented success – five Test wins in a year, more than it had ever previously achieved – he seemed at ease with himself. [caption id=“attachment_2098443” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Brendon McCullum of New Zealand bats during the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand at Hagley Oval. Getty[/caption] The often brash, sometimes combative McCullum who sometimes frustrated, sometimes antagonized fans and other players, seemed to have been replaced by a calmer and more thoughtful player, one more respectful of the game and his position in it. Asked today, on the eve of New Zealand’s World Cup opener against Sri Lanka, how different the Brendon McCullum of 2014 may be from the Brendon McCullum who played his first world tournament in 2003, he replied: “Quite different, I hope.” “When I was pretty young I was very naive, I hadn’t really traveled much and I didn’t really understand my game either,” he said. “I hope I’ve become a more rounded, a more worldly person who’s developed a bit of an understanding of the team he’s playing in, his position in the side and his position in life as well. “In 2003 I sat on the sidelines and watched and tomorrow I get the opportunity to lead the team out, so it’s been an interesting ride - I hope I’m a better cricketer and a better person now.” McCullum has no doubt that his recent individual success and the recent success of the New Zealand team are interlinked. One has fueled the other and the captaincy has given McCullum a new means to express a naturally aggressive nature, which he once made plain with the bat. The development of the team over that time could be attributed to a number of factors, he said, including players feeling more comfortable within the group and the attitude and culture of the squad. “I think we got that right and it gives us the greatest chance of success when we’re all in the right seats on the bus heading in the right direction,” he said. “We’ve got some guys who are starting to become world-class players and are starting to put out world-class performances and we’ve got some nice combinations. “You throw all that in the mix and guys are going to benefit statistically throughout the year and I guess I was one of those guys who was lucky enough to cash in on the back of some of the hard work of other people as well.” McCullum carries a number of heavy responsibilities within the New Zealand team and it is a measure of his maturity that he now bears those without complaint or histrionics. “My job, I guess, is all-encompassing in terms of leading the team and opening the batting and trying to execute the strategy on the field,” he said. “Is there extra pressure? I guess there’s extra pressure on everyone, just because of the nature of it being a World Cup. I’m excited about it and I have high ambitions about what I want to achieve throughout this World Cup.” AP
World Cup, New Zealand vs Sri Lanka as it happened: New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by 98 runs
McCullum’s feats with the bat in the past 14 months have already left little doubt he owns a place among the very best batsmen at the World Cup.
 "World Cup, New Zealand vs Sri Lanka as it happened: New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by 98 runs")
OUT! Vettori gets another one. Malinga is caught behind. S Malinga c Ronchi b Southee 0 (1b 0x4 0x6) After 41.5 overs, SL 217/9
Short of a good length delivery outside off, Malinga looks to cut close to his body but gets an outside edge to the keeper.
Suranga Lakmal is the last man in.
That’s it! New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by 98 runs.
Anderson removes Herath (13) caught at point. A comprehensive in for the Kiwis and they are off to a positive start in the World Cup. Sri Lanka never got the momentum going throughout the match. It was a proper team effort by New Zealand. The positives for Sri Lanka are the return to form of Thirimanne and Mathews.
OUT! Final nail in the coffin? Southee removes Mathews. AD Mathews c Vettori b Southee 46 (52b 5×4 0x6) SR: 88.46. After 41.2 overs, Sri Lanka 216/8
Good catch by Vettori. Short from Southee, Mathews charges down the track for a pull but gets a top edge, Vettori at mid-wicket pouches a very good catch.
Lasith Malinga is the new batsman.
After 40 overs, Sri Lanka 209/7 (Mathews 45, Herath 1)
A drab Powerplay from 32-37 overs, Just 19/0 during that period and then it is followed by the wicket of Kulasekara. Sri Lanka going nowhere from here. Mathews too is struggling to get away boundaries.
OUT! Anderson gets his man. Kulasekara is caught at deep point. Kulasekara c Elliott b Anderson 10 (21b 1×4 0x6). After 38.2 overs, Sri Lanka 196/7 (Mathews 34)
Kulasekara dances down the track, Anderson sees it and from round the wicket delivers it a touch wide. Kulasekara chases it for a slash but doesn’t get it off the middle. Elliott at deep point accepts a simple catch.
Rangana Herath is the new batsman.
Game 1 going as expected. #slvsnz. New Zealand much better bowling side with Vettori in. This one in Melbourne looking good.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 14, 2015
Dropped! Another drop in the day as Taylor puts down Kulasekara at 1st slip.
Anderson doesn’t take long to induce an outside edge off Kulasekara, Taylor moves to his right but fluffs it.
After 35 overs, Sri Lanka 179/6 (Mathews 22, Kulasekara 6)
Milne has rocked Sri Lanka with his pace. His is bowling fast and accurate stuff. Meanwhile Vettori finishes with his spell – 10-0-34-2. Brilliant from the left-arm spinner. The required rate is over 10 now and Sri Lanka need to make most of the Batting Powerplay now.
OUT! Mendis is caught behind. J Mendis c Ronchi b Milne 4 (4b 1×4 0x6). After 32 overs, Sri Lanka 168/6 (Mathews 19)
Milne gets another wicket. Short and fast on middle and leg, Mendis shuffles a tad and looks to pull but he is hurried up and gets a slight edge, it flicks the shoulder on its way to the keeper. They all go up in an appeal but the umpire says no. NZ opt for a review and snicko shows a pulse as the ball passes the bat. The decision is overturned. SL IN DEEP TROUBLE.
Nuwan Kulasekara is the new batsman.
OUT! Milne cleans up Karunaratne with a beauty. Karunaratne b Milne 14 (21b 0x4 0x6). After 31.3 overs, Sri Lanka 163/5 ( Mathews 19)
The change in angle does the trick. Length delivery outside off from round the wicket, it jags back in. Karunaratne stays back and looks to defend but is done in by the inward movement. He misses it and finds his stumps shattered. Brilliant delivery.
Jeevan Mendis is the new batsman.
After 30 overs, Sri Lanka 155/4 (Karunaratne12, Mathews 13)
No boundaries in the last four overs. Just 13 runs off it. This is good stuff from Vetori who has bowled 7 overs on a stretch. Mathews and Karunaratne have been extra cautious.
After 26 overs, Sri Lanka 142/4 (Karunaratne 9, Mathews 4)
Sri Lanka have lost it in the last 6 overs. They have lost 23/3. Thirimanne was looking good but his departure meant that there was a mini collapse. Karunaratne and Mathews need to rebuild now.
OUT! Body blow for Sri Lanka. Boult traps Sangakkara LBW. K Sangakkara lbw b Boult 39 (38b 5×4 0x6) After 23 overs, Sri Lanka 129/4 (Karunaratne 0)
Sangakkara completely misjudges the yorker. It’s a low full toss, Sangakkara for some unfathomable reasons chips down the track and looks to flick but misses it completely. The umpire raises his finger on the LBW appeal. Sangakkara things he hit it and opts for a review. The replays however show that it was hitting middle. Sangakkara has to walk back. Sri Lanka are in deep trouble here.
Angelo Mathews is the new batsman
OUT! Jayawardena is caught behind for a duck. M Jayawardene c †Ronchi b Vettori 0 (4b 0x4 0x6). After 23 overs, Sri Lanka 125/3 (Sangakkara 35)
Vettori scalps his 2nd wkt. Length delivery outside off, seems to hold onto the surface, Jayawardena stays back and looks to push but gets an outside edge to the keeper who makes no mistake.
Dimuth Karunaratne is the new batsman.
OUT! Boult cleans up Thirimanne with a brilliant yorker. Thirimanne b Boult 65 (60b 8×4 0x6). After 22 overs, Sri Lanka 124/2 (Sngakkara 34)
It was fast, it was full and it swung late. Thirimanne looked to drive it but was late in getting his bat down in time. The ball shatters the off stump.
Mahela Jayawardena is the new batsman.
After 20 overs, Sri Lanka 112/1 (Thirimanne 58, Sangakkara 29)
The 100 comes up for Sri Lanka. Sangakkara has got off to a good start. He hit a glorious cover drive off Milne and then trickled one to fine leg off the next ball for a boundary. He then flicked one through square leg off Boult for another boundary before advancing down the track to Boult and hammering him over mid off. Thirimanne, meanwhile, has been composed.
Thirimanne gets to his 50 off 45 balls after being dropped.
Vettori’s ball holds onto the surface and Thirimanne ends up spooning it to short mid-wicket where McCullum leaps but doesn’t manage to hold on. Thirimanne then gets to hsi fifty off 45 balls. It’s been a very good innings from him so far.
After 15 overs, Sri Lanka 74/1 (Thirimanne 46, Sangakkara 3)
Thirimanne had started playing some audacious shots but the wicket of Dilshan has jolted Sri Lanka. Thirimanne carted one over cover off Milne for a boundary and then upper cut one to third man for another. But Sri Lanka were jolted by the dismissal of Dilshan. Vettori struck in his first over and has given away just 14 runs from his 3 overs.
OUT! Vettori draws first blood. T Dilshan c & b Vettori 24 (41b 2×4 0x6). After 13 overs, Sri Lanka 67/1 (Thirimanne 43)
Dilshan is caught and bowled. Length delivery on off, it holds onto the surface, Dilshan stays in his crease and looks to push but is surprised as the ball holds onto the surface. He ends up checking his shot and spoons it back to Vettori.
Kumar Sangakkara is the new batsman
After 10 overs, Sri Lanka 46/0 (Dilshan 17, Thirimanne 29)
Thirimanne has played some delightful strokes. Dilshan meanwhile is struggling. Thirimanne is aggressive against Boult hitting him for three boundaries. A couple of cover drives and a back foot punch through point. He then guies one throuhg backward point off Southee for another boundary. 5 boundaries have come off the last five overs. Sri Lanka upping the ante now.
After 5 overs, Sri Lanka 17/0 (Dilshan 9, Thirimanne 8)
Sri Lanka have got off to a cautious start. Southee and Boult hav bowled good lines. Just two boundaries in the first five overs. NZ had hit 5 in their first five overs. Dilshan got a streaky boundary off an inside edge and Karunaratne has one. Dilshan is going too hard at the ball and struggling for timing. Not much movement for the bowlers though.
New Zealand post 331/6 from 50 overs.
A brilliant end to the innings for New Zealand. They hit 61 off the last 5 overs. Anderson the major destroyer and he was out off the last ball of the iinnings on 75. Ronchi remained not out on 29 off 19. Anderson and Ronchi added 73 from 6.1 overs. Sri Lanka were poor in the field as they dropped 3 catches. Malinga was listless and went wicketless conceding 84 runs from 10 overs. Kulasekara was hit for 78 runs. The spinners bowled well but Herath wasn’t bowled out and Mendis, who took two wickets, bowled just 2 overs! That drop of Anderson from Mendia could prove to be costly!
FIFTY for Anderson!
Anderson gets to his fifty off just 36 balls. He brings it up with a crackking boundary to long off. He follows it up with a thumping six over long on off Kulasekara.
Malinga cleans up Ronchi off a NO BALL!
A very good delivery but Malinga had overstepped. It’s a yorker on off, Ronchi backed away and looked to dig but missed. The ball disturbed the timber. The umpire goes upstairs to check for front foot no ball and it’s very tight, his foot is on the line and the umpire makes the right decision. Another lifeline for a Kiwi batsman.
Dropped! Mendis drops a sitter. Anderson gets a lifeline.
It’s a full toss outside off from Lakmal and after a couple of boundaries, Anderson goes for another one, but this time he miscues it high in the air, Mendis runs in from covers, settles under it but drops a sitter. 3rd drop of the innings from Sri Lanka.
After 45 overs, New Zealand 270/5 (Anderson 35, Ronchi 9)
New Zealand may have lost the wicket of Elliott but they have managed to up the ante. 41 runs in the last five overs. Malinga got it right in one over where he conceded just 4 runs but then went for 10 runs in his next. He is missing his lines and lengths completely. Ronchi is allowed to get into the groove very early.
OUT! Lakmal rmoves Elliott. G Elliott c Thirimanne b Lakmal 29 (34b 2×4 0x6). After 43.5 overs, New Zealand 258/5. (Anderson 32)
Just when it looked like New Zealand were getting into the groove. Sri Lanka pick up a wicket at a crucial interval. It’s a full toss on middle, Elliott swivels and pulls it but does’t get it off the middle and hits it straight to the fielder at deep mid-wicket. The umpire checks for a waist height no ball but it looks fine.
Luke Ronchi is the new batsman.
After 40 overs, New Zealand 229/4 (Anderson 18, Elliott 15)
33/0 in the Batting Powerplay – A decent one for New Zealand considering the fact that there were two new batsmen at the crease. The 13-run over off Dilshan was the top over in the BATTING PP. Anderson swept him for a four and then clubbed him for a six over long on for a six.
After 35 overs, New Zealand 196/4 (Elliott 2, Anderson 1)
Just when it looked like Williamson was getting into the groove. Sri Lanka have again done well to pull things back with two quick wickets. Williamson hit a four and a six off Kulasekara and followed it with another boundary off Dilshan but Mendis hit back with the wickets of Williamson and Taylor off back-to-back deliveries. Sri Lanka will be happy as there are two new batsmen – Elliott and Anderson in the Batting Powerplay now!
OUT! Mendis gets two in two. Taylor departs. R Taylor st Sangakkara b Mendis 14 (28b 0x4 0x6), After 33.4 overs, New Zealand 193/4 (Elliott 0)
Lovely delivery. Flighted and full outside off, spinning away. Taylor leans forward for a drive but gets beaten by the away turn. He misses, Sangakkara fumbles but recovers well to clip the bails off. The third umpire takes ages to give it out but in the end the right decision is made as Taylor’s foot is in the air.
Corey Anderson is the new batsman.
OUT! Brilliant catch from Karunaratne and Mendis removes Williamson. K Williamson c Karunaratne b Mendis 57 (65b 5×4 1×6). After 33.3 overs, New Zealand 193/3 (Taylor (14)
Flighted from Mendis, Williamson uses his feet and looks to go downtown but doesn’t connect it well, Karunaratne at long on runs to his right, dives to his right and pouches a splendid catch. Williamson can’t make the most of the two dropped catches.
Grant Elliott is the new batsman.
FIFTY for Williamson.
Yet another fifty for Williamson. He brings it up with a single to mid-wicket and it comes off 59 balls. It’s his 13th fifty in last 17 ODIs. Sri Lanka might just pay the price for dropping him twice.
After 30 overs, New Zealand 158/2 (Williamson 28, Taylor 9)
The 150 comes up for New Zealand. But it’s been a slow going for them. In the first 13 overs they scored 100 and in the next 13 just 50. Williamson is getting a bit frustrated out in the middle and gets another lifeline after he was dropped at short extra cover by Mathews. He then pulled one through mid-wicket for a boundary. He needs to make sure that he makes the most of a couple of liflines.
Dropped! Williamson gets another life.
Full outsideoff from Kulasekara, Williamson looks to go inside out and thumps it, Mathews at short extra cover sticks out his right hand but doesn’t manage to hold on. It was traveling but you need to take these half chances. You can’t afford to give Williamson two lifelines!
After 25 overs, New Zealand 145/2 (Williamson 20, Taylor 4)
Halfway through the innings and Sri Lanka have pulled it back really well. Lakmal has got good seam movement and troubled the batsmen. Williamson nearly chopped one one. Lakmal’s figures read 5-0-18-1. 18 runs and one wicket off the last five overs. Williamson not looking at his best. Taylor has just arrived.
OUT! Guptil misses out on his fifty! M Guptill c Sangakkara b Lakmal 49 (62b 5×4 0x6). After 22.2 overs, New Zealand 136/2 (Williamson 15)
A very good catch from Sangakkara. He had dropped Williamson earlier but this time he makes amends. It’s full outside off, Guptill pushes at it lazily and gets an outside edge. Sangakkara dives to his right and pouches a very good catch.
Ross Taylor is the new batsman.
After 20 overs, New Zealand 127/1 (Guptill 43, Williamson 12)
Things have slowed down considerably. Sri Lanka have hit back hard and Herath has choked the scoring from one end. Lakmal was unlucky in his first over as Williamson was dropped. Just 17 runs and a wicket off the last 5 overs.
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