The day belonged to the hosts

The opening day completely belonged to the hosts. Both the hosts mauled their opponents. New Zealand won by 98 runs whereas Australia won by 111 runs.

Both the hosts lost the toss and were put into bat. Both of them posted a 300+ score. Both the hosts dismissed all the opponent batsmen in their 230s. Both the team had three 50+ score. Corey Anderson for Kiwis and Glenn Maxwell for Aussies in the lower order scored at 160+ strike rate. In both the teams, the wicket-keeper provided a impetus to the score. In their respective innings they had one 100+ partnership and three 50+ partnership. Their bowlers showed both control and incision in defending their total.

Aaron Finch from Australia registered the first century of this world cup in 102 balls.

Brendon McCullum from New Zealand became the first batsman to score a 50 in this world cup.

There were two five-fors in the same match, however both came in the contrasting style. With 2 for 71 from 9.3 overs, Steven Finn finished the innings with five wickets taking three wickets off the last three balls dismissing Maxwell, Haddin and Johnson in the process. This incidentally meant that he became the first bowler to complete the hat-trick in this world cup. On the other hand Mitchell Marsh completed his first ODI five-for which decimated the England batting line up from which they did not recover.

Apart from Steven Finn, there were two other bowlers who were on hat-trick today but could not complete it. Stuart Broad dismissed David Warner and Shane Watson in consecutive balls of his 4th over. Similarly Jeevan Medis dismissed Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor off his successive balls in his second over. 

Adam Milne is New Zealand's fastest bowler since Shane Bond and he clocked 149.1 kph which was fastest for the day and for the competition so far.

There were several instances of sloppy fielding in both the games. There were crucial misses on the field and not so crucial misses. Chris Woakes misjudged Finch's catch that went above his head in the very first over of the match when Finch was at 0. Later in the fifth over David Warner offered a tougher chance to Moeen Ali and he did not even properly reach for it. Later England missed another chance to dismiss Finch on 123, when Taylor's throw from short fine leg was far too high. 

Sri Lanka's fielding also did them no favours. They dropped four catches at time when it could have turned the game in their favour. Mendis was the worst offender, when he grassed a high ball skied by Anderson. Mendis settled under the ball and dropped a sitter. 

Australia had its share of blemishes. Finch dropped Taylor when he was on 20. It was again a very simple catch. When Mitchel Marsh had inflicted an irreversible damage to England and a comeback from England was improbable, Australian fielding showed signs of slackening and that resulted in few mis-fields.

But there were some exceptional catches taken as well. Brad Haddin dived to his left after initially moving to his right and with single hand claimed a toe-end edge of Eoin Morgan. Steven Smith who is a live wire on the field plucked the powerful drive from Buttler that was on the rise as it went to Smith's left, standing at extra cover.

In the other match Karunaratne dived to his right full stretch at the outfield to take the catch inches from the turf to dismiss Kane Williamson of the bowling of Jeevan Mendis.

Since his 121 at the SCG nearly a month ago, Eoin Morgan has 4 score of ducks in 5 innings, including the World Cup warm-ups. The fifth score is of 2.

Both Australia and England  took their powerplay earlier than the ususal practcie. Australia took the bating powerplay in 31st over whereas England took it in 33rd over.

Lasith Malinga, returning to ODI cricket for the first time since undergoing ankle surgery in September, showed the effects of his layoff. But what would come as a comfort to Sri Lanka is that Malinga seemed to be returning to his original self towards the end of his spell.

17,228 was the final count inside the  Hagley Oval whereas MCG's final count was 84336.