BBC News Online: Sport: 1999 Cricket World Cup: Teams: England

England triumph in World Cup opener

England got their World Cup campaign off to a triumphant start, with an emphatic victory over reigning champions Sri Lanka at Lord's.

Captain Alec Stewart led from the front with a superb 88 and Graeme Hick scored an unbeaten 73, as the hosts cruised past a lowly target of 205 to win the first game of the tournament.

Hick smacked the winnings runs with an awesome straight six, as victory was secured with more than three overs remaining.

But much of the damage had been done earlier in the day, when the bowlers - inspired by a clinical spell from Alan Mullally - exploited the overcast conditions to peg back a team who are renowned for their bludgeoning batting.

Pre-tournament predictions that England's best chance of success lies in strangling the opposition with accurate seam bowling under cloudy skies proved accurate as Mullally, who took four wickets, and his fellow bowlers dominated a rain-hit morning.

Knight axed

Stewart was joined at the top of the order by a new opening partner, as Nasser Hussain was drafted in at the 11th hour in place of the out-of-form Nick Knight.

Together they accumulated runs at a steady rate, knowing that the asking rate of little more than four an over did not require the kind of pinch-hitting antics that dominated the last World Cup.

Sri Lanka's seam bowlers struggled to cause many problems and it was only the introduction of off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan that brought a breakthrough, Hussain charging down the pitch before being stumped for 14 after the openers had put on 50.

But Stewart and Hick then took the match by the scruff of the neck, with an excellent partnership of 125 from 165 balls.

The time at the crease was particularly important for man of the match Stewart, who has been out of touch of late, but was able to reach his first half-century in 18 one-day international innings.

But with the hundred in his sights, he was dismissed. Chaminda Vaas was adjudged to have tempted him into an inside edge, although the skipper was clearly unimpressed with the decision.

With the score at 175-2 and nine overs remaining, the loss of Stewart did little to halt England's charge to victory.

Hick, in unusually restrained mode, played a virtually chanceless innings, reaching his 50 off 63 balls, while England's most reliable one-day batsman Graham Thorpe helped him home with an unbeaten 13.

Marvellous Mullally

Earlier Mullally proved the star with the ball, taking four wickets after Stewart had won the toss and put t Sri Lanka in to bat on a damp and grey morning at headquarters.

After a brief rain interruption the sun came out and the capacity crowd were treated to the tournament's first impressive performances.

Mullally's fiery left-arm seam bowling helped reduce the holders to 65-4.

Romesh Kaluwitharana led Sri Lanka's fightback with a quickfire 57, in a stand of 84 with his captain Arjuna Ranatunga.

But Mullally returned to take the wicketkeeper's scalp and complete his figures 4-37.

Mullally made that opening breakthrough with his sixth ball of the match, tempting Roshan Mahanama into an extravagant shot, which looped up to Graeme Hick running back from second slip

Ian Austin, whose nervous start had featured a series of wides, then made a positive contribution as Marvan Atapattu edged to Graham Thorpe at slip.

And the dangrerous Sanath Jayasuriya was soon on his way for 29 as Mullally surprised him with his bounce and the ball veered off to Hick at slip.

Two ducks

Mark Ealham then saw off Hashan Tillekeratne for a duck with his first ball - a streaky leg side delivery - and Mullally's pace and bounce resulted in dangerman Aravinda De Silva going without scoring.

The holders were reeling, but if England thought they were in control then they were in for a shock.

The Sri Lankans did not win the last tournament by chance, and Ranatunga and Kaluwitharana's counter-attacking partnership showed their strength.

Kaluwitharana in particular set Lord's alight, striking seven dazzling boundaries as he made 50 in 52 balls.

With the score having now moved on to 149 for five, England desperately needed their sixth breakthrough.

They got it when Ranatunga cut fiercely but was brilliantly caught by Nasser Hussain at gully off Ealham.

Slash and miss

Kaluwitharana had just slashed and missed at a wide ball from the left-armer but on the next occasion he was not so lucky.

His next attempt to cut resulted in an edge to keeper Stewart and England had a sight of the Sri Lankan tail with the score only 155.

Austin, Adam Hollioake and Darren Gough mopped up the remaining wickets to see off the Sri Lankans for 204 with eight balls left of their allocated 50 overs.

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In this section

No decision on Stewart
Donald slams Stewart 'blunder'
Woolmer plays waiting game
Barmy Army hit out at England bosses
Lloyd: It must be an Englishman
Stewart's role in doubt
England crash out
Stewart refuses to panic
England - what went wrong?
Dickie: No need for new coach
England v India in pictures
England v India scorecard
Big-hitting India stand in England's way
Stewart aims for revenge
England stroll home
England flop against favourites
Hussain: I'm happy to open
H-men inspire England
Umpires make rain error
Warne rapped for Ranatunga row
Stewart: We simply had to win
Let the carnival begin
England triumph in World Cup opener
In-form England crush Hampshire
England scrape home
Gooch says no to permanent job
England warm up with win
Missing Thorpe is fined
England offered World Cup bonuses
Stewart anthem idea ditched
Flintoff: Don't expect too much
Skippers at odds over World Cup
Botham slams World Cup preparations
Austin: Weather is our secret weapon
England stars end pay row
Gower: England need a plan
England: Form Guide