Hosts win Cricket World Cup openers
February 14, 2015
In a highly anticipated game, Australia crushed England to win by 111 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in front of almost 85,000 fans on Saturday.
England won the toss and put the co-hosts into bat. After being dropped on the fifth ball of the innings by Chris Woakes off the bowling of James Anderson, opener Aaron Finch went on to make 135 off 128 balls, collecting the tournament's first century. Despite England's Steven Finn taking the first hat-trick of the 2015 World Cup with the last three balls of the innings, Australia finished 342-9 - their highest ODI score against England.
England were bowled out for 231, although things could have ended a lot sooner were it not for James Taylor's 98 not out. Mitchell Marsh took five for 33 as England stumbled to 92-6 before Taylor's valiant innings. The youngster was denied a century after a bizarre ending to the game when Taylor had an lbw decision overturned on review, only for James Anderson to be ruled run out at the other end.
In the tournament's opening game earlier in the day, New Zealand secured an impressive 98-run victory against Sri Lanka in Christchurch. The co-hosts hauled in a massive 331-6 despite losing the toss. Captain Brendon McCullum (65) and Kane Williamson (57) laid the foundations for a big score, before all-rounder Corey Anderson smashed 75 off just 46 balls for an entertaining finish. Remarkably, Sri Lankan bowler Lasith Malinga failed to take a wicket in his 10-over spell, costing 84 runs without reward.
Sri Lanka, the 1996 World Cup winners, looked well placed at 124-1 after 22 overs, but then Trent Boult and Daniel Vettori took three wickets for five runs in just 12 balls to turn the tide back in New Zealand's favor.
On Sunday, South Africa take on Zimbabwe in Hamilton, New Zealand, before Pakistan play India in Adelaide, Australia, later on.
jh/tj (AFP/AP)