CHRISTCHURCH: New Zealand defeated Sri Lanka by 98 runs on Saturday in their World Cup opener at Hagley Oval.

The Black Caps made 331 for six batting first with Corey Anderson hitting 75, Brendon McCullum 65 and Kane Williamson contributing 57.

For Sri Lanka, leg-spinner Jeevan Mendis took two wickets for five runs off two overs and Suranga Lakmal two for 62.

In reply, Sri Lanka were well-placed at 124 for one before they lost their way.

Opener Lahiru Thirimanne top-scored with 65 while Kumar Sangakarra made 39, taking him past former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting as the second highest run scorer in one-day international history.

Completed scoreboard in the World Cup Pool A match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Saturday:

New Zealand

M. Guptill c Sangakkara b Lakmal 49

B. McCullum c Mendis b Herath 65

K. Williamson c Karunaratne b Mendis 57

R. Taylor st Sangakkara b Mendis 14

G. Elliott c Thirimanne b Lakmal 29

C. Anderson c Lakmal b Kulasekara 75

L. Ronchi not out 29

Extras (lb2, w8, nb3) 13

Total (for 6 wickets, 50) 331

Did not bat: D. Vettori, T. Southee, A. Milne, T. Boult

Fall of wickets: 1-111 (McCullum), 2-136 (Guptill), 3-193 (Williamson), 4-193 (Taylor), 5-258 (Elliott), 6-331 (Anderson)

Bowling: Kulasekara 8-0-78-1 (3w), Malinga 10-0-84-0 (3w, 3nb), Mathews 6-0-28-0, Herath 9-0-37-1 (1w), Dilshan 5-0-35-0 (1w), Lakmal 10-0-62-2, Mendis 2-0-5-2

Sri Lanka

L. Thirimanne b Boult 65

T. Dilshan c & b Vettori 24

K. Sangakkara lbw b Boult 39

M. Jayawardene c Ronchi b Vettori 0

D. Karunaratne b Milne 14

A. Mathews c Vettori b Southee 46

J. Mendis c Ronchi b Milne 4

N. Kulasekara c Elliott b Anderson 10

R. Herath c Milne b Anderson 13

S. Malinga c Ronchi b Southee 0

S. Lakmal not out 7

Extras (w10, nb1) 11

Total (10 wickets, 46.1 overs) 233

Fall of wickets: 1-67 (Dilshan), 2-124 (Thirimanne), 3-125 (Jayawardene), 4-129 (Sangakkara), 5-163 (Karunaratne), 6-168 (Mendis), 7-196 (Kulasekara), 8-216 (Mathews), 9-217 (Malinga), 10-233 (Herath)

Bowling: Southee 10-1-43-2 (2w), Boult 10-0-64-2, Milne 10-0-57-2 (3w, 1nb), Vettori 10-0-34-2 (2w), Elliott 2-0-11-0, Williamson 1-0-7-0, Anderson 3.1-0-18-2 (2w)

Toss: Sri Lanka

Result: New Zealand won by 98 runs

Umpires: Nigel Llong (ENG), Marais Erasmus (RSA)

TV umpire: S. Ravi (IND)

Match referee: David Boon (AUS)