CHRISTCHURCH, Dec 26: Brendon McCullum launched his farewell tour in rollicking form today with a whirlwind 55 to set up New Zealand�s seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka in their opening one-day international in Christchurch.
In a 25-ball stay at the crease, McCullum smacked 11 fours and one six to have Sri Lanka on the ropes before he departed with New Zealand only needing a further 81 runs in 40 overs.
Martin Guptill posted his 26th half-century on his way to 79 off 56 deliveries while debutant Henry Nicholls was not out on 23 when the innings ended at the end of the 20th over.
New Zealand were set a modest 189 target after Matt Henry destroyed the cream of the Sri Lankan top order in a brief spell of 16 balls when he took four wickets for two runs.
Sri Lanka were eventually all out for 188 in 47 overs on a wicket that promised runs galore, and New Zealand knocked off the target with ease.
SCORECARD
Sri Lanka: D Gunathilaka c Ronchi b Milne 8, T Dilshan c Nicholls b Henry 9, L Thirimanne lbw Henry 1, D Chandimal c Taylor b Henry 5, A Mathews c Latham b Henry 0, M Siriwardana c McCullum b Bracewell 66, C Kapugedera c Santner b Bracewell 8, N Kulasekera c Ronchi b McClenaghan 58, A Mendis c Ronchi b McClenaghan 4, D Chameera not out 13, S Lakmal c Latham b Bracewell 8. Extras: (W-8) 8. Total: (For 10 wickets in 47 overs) 188. Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-20, 3-23, 4-23, 5-27, 6-65, 7-163, 8-164, 9-167, 10-188. Bowling: Milne 10-0-30-1, Henry 10-1-49-4, McClenaghan 10-2-40-2, Bracewell 9-1-37-3, Santner 8-0-32-0.
New Zealand: M Guptill c Kulasekara b Siriwardana 79, B McCullum c Lakmal b Siriwardana 55, T Latham b Dilshan 18, R Taylor not out 5, H Nicholls not out 23. Extras: (LB-1, W-10) 11. Total: (For 3 wickets in 21 overs) 191. Fall of wickets: 1-108, 2-162, 3-164. Bowling: Kulasekara 3-0-27-0, Lakmal 3-0-24-0, Mathews 1-0-17-0, Mendis 5-0-49-0, Siriwardana 5-0-45-2, Chameera 2-0-18-0, Dilshan 2-0-10-1. � AFP
