Steven Finn became the first England bowler to take a World Cup hat-trick with wickets off the final three balls of Australia's 342-9.

While chasing Australia's gigantic total of 342 runs, England struggle to reach the 200-mark. Lower-order batsman James Taylor helms the English innings with his unbeaten 98 runs while his co-players keep returning to the pavilion. By sheer misfortune, he misses his maiden ODI century and England face a defeat of 111 runs

In a day of allround performance by the Kiwis, Lankans appear weaker both with their bats and the ball.

Live commentary of the maiden World Cup 2015 match between Sri Lanka and hosts New Zealand at Christchurch

Upbeat Brendon McCullum believes the New Zealand side he leads into the World Cup opener against Sri Lanka in Christchurch on Saturday is the best prepared Kiwi team he has known.

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews has demanded an immediate end to the losing habit that has infected his side in the lead up to Saturday's World Cup opener against New Zealand in Christchurch.

George Bailey says he is comfortable with losing the captaincy and his place in the Australian team when Michael Clarke is ready to return to lead the side at the World Cup.

Wily paceman James Anderson says England have no intention of provoking a sledging war with Australian firebrand David Warner in Saturday's high-profile World Cup opener.

It looked like a lonely place. The veteran guides were roaming with the visiting groups, as though it was just another day, to show the fine points of MCG -- the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground.

As New Zealand arrive, wanting only to sustain their success, confident the bowlers will not lose their lines, and lifted by the feeling that someone in the top seven will always find a way to fire, Sri Lanka are scrambling around, searching for that spark that will set their campaign alight. In past world tournaments, the visitors have found it in unlikely places.

As usual, music, colours, diversity of cultures as well as fireworks marked the opening ceremony of the 2015 cricket World Cup.

If there were any hidden fears surrounding Bangladesh's first World Cup encounter against Afghanistan they were all vividly revealed on social media yesterday, as the Tigers went down to Ireland by four wickets in an unexpected defeat at the Blacktown Olympic Park in Sydney.

Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza endured a thoroughly bad day yesterday.

On Khurram Khan's many previous visits to Melbourne as a flight purser, he stayed across the road from the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

A British manufacturer has unveiled a new cricket helmet designed to prevent another tragic death like that of Phillip Hughes.

The opening ceremony for the ICC World Cup 2015 is held at Christchurch and Melbourne. Both the cities were draped and decorated in festive colours as the biggest show for cricket began with a spectacular show of fireworks and colourful flags.

Ireland defeat Bangladesh by four wickets in the Tigers' third and last warm up match in Sydney.

One of Pakistan's finest opening batsmen and current chief selector, Aamir Sohail feels this World cup will heavily rely on openers and it will be challenging for them to perform under new rules on fast and bouncy pitches of Australia and New Zealand.

It all ends today. All those talks regarding the importance of the practice matches and adjusting to the conditions down under; won't matter after today's game against the Irish at the Blacktown Olympic Park at Sydney.

An arch depicting the World Cup logos is still prevalent in front of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka; a simple idea to illustrate how the country made it their occasion.