Christchurch: Brendon McCullum&rsquo;s leadership and the canny skills of Daniel Vettori were credited with driving the New Zealand juggernaut to a huge win in their opening World Cup match against Sri Lanka.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2015/feb/15mccullum.jpg" alt="" /> New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum in full flow against Sri Lanka &nbsp;at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Saturday. Pic/AFP
Kiwi all-rounder Corey Anderson was named man of the match for his 75 and two for 18 double in New Zealand&rsquo;s 98-run win, but the 24-year-old passed the credit to the two veterans in the side. McCullum, he said, erased any nerves in the side when he blasted a rapid 65 in a quickfire 111-run opening partnership with Martin Guptill to set up New Zealand&rsquo;s impressive 331-6 in their 50 overs.
Bout of nerves Vettori then snared the key wickets of Tillakaratne Dilshan and Mahela Jaywardene as New Zealand rolled Sri Lanka for 233.
&ldquo;We had a had a few nerves before the game, being the first World Cup game, but they they settled pretty quickly
when Brendon and Guppy (Guptill) went about their work,&rdquo; Anderson said.
&ldquo;We all know Baz (McCullum) as being someone that in a big event he really turns it on.&rdquo;
&ldquo;He said to treat it as another game of cricket and go about your work and keep what began as a juggernaut rolling forward and that&rsquo;s what we did. Brendon&rsquo;s so inspirational it&rsquo;s always nice to to have him on our side.&rdquo;
'Poor fielding cost us' Meanwhile, senior Sri Lanka batsman Lahiru Thirimanne blamed sloppy fielding for their 98-run hiding by New Zealand in the World Cup opener at Hagley Oval.
&ldquo;We leaked 20-30 runs through poor fielding,&rdquo; said Thirimanne.
&ldquo;It was a good wicket but 280-290 would have been chaseable on this ground. But we didn&rsquo;t field well and that cost us.&rdquo;

Brendon McCullum&rsquo;s leadership and the canny skills of Daniel Vettori were credited with driving the New Zealand juggernaut to a huge win in their opening World Cup match against Sri Lanka.

ICC World Cup: Corey Anderson hails McCullum's leadership

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ICC World Cup: Corey Anderson hails McCullum's leadership

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