WELLINGTON, Dec 26 - Captain Stephen Fleming
smashed an unbeaten half-century to steer New Zealand to an easy
seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in their first one-day match
at Eden Park in Auckland on Sunday.
Fleming made 77 not out from 92 balls to help the Kiwis
finish on 144 for three and race past Sri Lanka's modest total
of 141 with 17 overs to spare.
"It was a comprehensive drubbing," Fleming told a news
conference. "We showed signs of rust ourselves but got the job
done."
The tourists were skittled out in just 42 overs after all
rounder Chris Cairns ripped through the middle order to capture
four wickets for 33 runs.
Cairns picked up the vital scalps of former captain Sanath
Jayasuriya for 43 and top-scorer Tillakaratne Dilshan for 48 to
prevent the Sri Lankans from mounting a fightback after they had
made a disastrous start to their innings.
Sri Lanka lost four wickets inside the first 13 overs as
opener Saman Jayantha (0), captain Marvan Atapattu (4),
wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara (1) and Mahela Jayawardene (2) all
fell cheaply to the bowling combination of Daryl Tuffey, Kyle
Mills and Jacob Oram.
Jayasuriya and Dilshan tried to rebuild the innings but both
succumbed to Cairns, who completed eight overs despite twisting
his ankle when he fell in his first over.
Jayasuriya struck five boundaries and a six from 60 balls
before he top edged an attempted hook to Hamish Marshal while
Dilshan hit three fours and a six off 79 deliveries when he was
brilliantly caught at slip by Fleming.
New Zealand made a shaky start to their reply when Nathan
Astle was trapped leg before wicket to Chaminda Vaas for six but
the home side quickly resumed control.
The Kiwis lost Mathew Sinclair for 31 and Scott Syris for 12
but were never in danger of losing as Fleming continued to score
freely.
The New Zealand captain belted eight boundaries and two
towering sixes to post his 38th one-day international and secure
the man of the match award.
Sunday's match was the first of five limited-overs
internationals between New Zealand and Sri Lanka that will
determine second place in the world rankings behind Australia.
"We need to put this behind us and get ready for the next
one," Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu said.
"We're not going to get bowled out for 140 every day and
we'll put up a better show next time."