Daniel Vettori (second right) celebrates with teammates Brendon McCullum (right), Luke Ronchi (left) and Martin Guptill after dismissing Sri Lankan opener Tillakaratne Dilshan yesterday. (AFP)

 

Reuters/Christchurch


Daniel Vettori, whose battered body has endured a series of injuries which would have ended the career of a less determined cricketer long ago, gave a master class in orthodox left-arm spin in the opening game of the World Cup yesterday.
Vettori, 36, was handed the ball in the 11th over after Sri Lanka had made a promising start in pursuit of New Zealand’s 331 for six at Hagley Oval. In his second over, with Sri Lanka on 67 for no wicket, Vettori deceived Tillakaratne Dilshan into lobbing a simple return catch. He bowled one more over before captain Brendon McCullum decided to take him out of the attack.
With the arrival of Mahela Jayawardene at the crease, McCullum called on his tall left-armer again, aware that Vettori had notched notable triumphs over the classy Sri Lankan in the past.
Jaywardene, one of a trio along with Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara with the class and ability to play a match-winning innings, was noticeably wary against Vettori’s guile and variations of pace. But after lasting only four balls without scoring he pushed forward at another good length delivery, the ball caught the edge, and Luke Ronchi behind the stumps leaped in triumph.
The dismissal of Sangakkara in the next over for 39 effectively spelt the end of Sri Lanka’s hopes.
“It was a plan,” man-of-the-match Corey Anderson told a news conference. “Dan’s got him out numerous times and it obviously paid off for us today again. He’s just a clever bowler. It’s one of those things, you’d like him to bowl more than 10 but he can’t.”
Vettori’s 10 overs against an Asian side brought up on a diet of spin cost only 34 runs and ensured, if there had been any doubt, that he will now be an automatic choice ahead of Nathan McCullum for the spinner’s spot.
McCullum, like his brother, is a brilliant fielder but Vettori showed he can still play a full part in the field with a fine, tumbling catch to dismiss Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews.
He accepted the congratulations of his teammates without a flicker of emotion and Anderson was effusive in his praise afterwards.
“He is just so good. He’s played a lot of cricket,” Anderson said. “He’s smart and he knows how to get guys out. The two for 34 he got put them on the back foot and they had to try and take apart the other guys and that’s pretty hard to do.”
Anderson was named man-of-the-match for his 75 and two for 18 double in New Zealand’s 98-run win, but the 24-year-old passed the credit to Vettori and his skipper.
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’s impressive 331-6 in their 50 overs.
“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,” Anderson said. “We all know Baz (McCullum) as being someone that in a big event he really turns it on.”
After an impressive build-up to cricket’s showpiece tournament, the New Zealanders have been installed among the favourites, but Anderson said McCullum made sure the players did not succumb to public pressure.
“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’s what we did. Brendon’s so inspirational it’s always nice to to have him on our side.”
The need to attack told immediately after Jayawardene was out with Boult trapping Kumar Sangakkara in front for 39.
Along with Anderson, Vettori and Boult, Tim Southee and Adam Milne also took two wickets each. New Zealand and Sri Lanka now move to Dunedin where New Zealand play Scotland on Tuesday and Sri Lanka play Afghanistan next Sunday.