New Zealand beats Sri Lanka by 9 wickets in 1st ODI to lead the series 1-0

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Will Young made an unbeaten 90 and shared a 93-run opening partnership with Rachin Ravindra which propelled New Zealand to a nine wicket win over Sri Lanka in the first one-day international Sunday and a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Earlier, Matt Henry took 4-19 as New Zealand bowled out Sri Lanka for 178 in just over 43 overs in a match played in chilly conditions at the Basin Reserve. New Zealand was 180-1 when it reached its winning target in the 27th over.

Young posted his 11th ODI half century and Ravindra returned to form with a bright 45 from 36 balls which included six fours and a six. Mark Chapman was 29 not out at the end.

“Obviously, changing formats and getting back into some one day cricket, the guys were excited,” said Henry who took three of his wickets bowling into the teeth of the gale. “It was great to get the series underway.”

New Zealand won the toss and sent Sri Lanka in on a pitch that had been covered because of recent rain, suiting the home team's four-pronged pace attack. A bitter southerly wind blasted across the Basin Reserve throughout the match, dropping temperatures to 14 degrees (57 Fahrenheit) in high summer.

Avishka Fernando scored a gritty half century in an 87-run partnership with Janith Liyanage which provided the substance of Sri Lanka's innings, rallying the tourists after they had slumped to 23-4 in the 10th over.

Fernando made 56, his fifth ODI half century, and Liyanage made 36, coming back into the Sri Lanka team after missing the three-match Twenty20 series which New Zealand won 2-1.

Henry, Nathan Smith and Jacob Duffy all claimed early wickets to put Sri Lanka on the back foot, then New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner broke the key partnership between Fernando and Liyanage.

Santner took a wicket, effected a run out and took three catches from Henry's bowling to take a busy role in Sri Lanka's innings.

After a watchful start, Sri Lanka lost the key wicket of opener Pathum Nissanka in the fifth over.

Nissanka made 141 runs at an average of 47 in the T20 series. He had made only 9 Sunday when he tried to work a ball from Henry through midwicket but, as it seamed away, managed only to loop it to Santner at mid-off.

Santner produced a sharp piece of fielding to run out Kamindu Mendis (3) and captain Charith Asalanka was caught by wicketkeeper Mitchell Hay from Smith's bowling.

Fernando and Liyanage steadily rebuilt the Sri Lanka innings, carrying it to 108-4 after 25 overs. The 26-year-old Fernando produced a defiant innings, reaching his half century from 52 balls with six fours and a six.

Liyanage tried to hoist a ball from Santner over the off side but skied it from a top edge and was caught by the substitute fielder Michael Bracewell. Fernando was out in the next over, driving at a ball from Smith which sliced to Glenn Phillips at backward point.

Chamindu Wickramasinghe and Wanindu Hasaranga (35) put on 48 for the seventh wicket before Henry returned and dismissed Wickramasinghe on 22.

The teams meet again at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Wednesday.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

New Zealand's Will Young celebrates scoring 50 runs during the first ODI international cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at the Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra and Will Young react during the first ODI international cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand's Mitchell Santner takes a catch to dismiss Sri Lanka's Wanindu Hasaranga during the first ODI international cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra leaves the field after being caught by Sri Lanka's Wanindu Hasaranga during the first ODI international cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand's Will Young bats during the first ODI international cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra and Will Young play during the first ODI international cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra and Will Young interact during the first ODI international cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand's Will Young bats during the first ODI international cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP)

Sri Lanka's Kamindu Mendis bats during the first ODI international cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at the Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand. Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP)

Sri Lanka's Avishka Fernando, right, celebrates after scoring 50 runs during the first ODI international cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP)

Sri Lanka's Janith Liyanage bats during the first ODI international cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand's Nathan Smith checks on Michael Bracewell after he hits his head taking a catch to dismiss Sri Lanka's Janith Liyanage during the first ODI international cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand's Michael Bracewell takes a catch to dismiss Sri Lanka's Janith Liyanage during the first ODI international cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand's Nathan Smith appeals for the wicket of Sri Lanka's Charith Asalanka during the first ODI international cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at the Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand. Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP)

Sri Lanka's Avishka Fernando, right, celebrates after scoring 50 runs during the first ODI international cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP)

Sri Lanka's Janith Liyanage bats during the first ODI international cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at the Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand. Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. ( (Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP)

Sri Lanka's Kamindu Mendis bats during the first ODI international cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at the Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand. Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP)

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Richard “Dick” Codey, a former acting governor of New Jersey and the longest serving legislator in the state's history, died Sunday. He was 79.

Codey’s wife, Mary Jo Codey, confirmed her husband’s death to The Associated Press.

“Gov. Richard J. Codey passed away peacefully this morning at home, surrounded by family, after a brief illness,” Codey's family wrote in a Facebook post on Codey's official page.

"Our family has lost a beloved husband, father and grandfather -- and New Jersey lost a remarkable public servant who touched the lives of all who knew him," the family said.

Known for his feisty, regular-guy persona, Codey was a staunch advocate of mental health awareness and care issues. The Democrat also championed legislation to ban smoking from indoor areas and sought more money for stem cell research.

Codey, the son of a northern New Jersey funeral home owner, entered the state Assembly in 1974 and served there until he was elected to the state Senate in 1982. He served as Senate president from 2002 to 2010.

Codey first served as acting governor for a brief time in 2002, after Christine Todd Whitman’s resignation to join President George W. Bush’s administration. He held the post again for 14 months after Gov. Jim McGreevey resigned in 2004.

At that time, New Jersey law mandated that the Senate president assume the governor’s role if a vacancy occurred, and that person would serve until the next election.

Codey routinely drew strong praise from residents in polls, and he gave serious consideration to seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2005. But he ultimately chose not to run when party leaders opted to back wealthy Wall Street executive Jon Corzine, who went on to win the office.

Codey would again become acting governor after Corzine was incapacitated in April 2007 due to serious injuries he suffered in a car accident. He held the post for nearly a month before Corzine resumed his duties.

After leaving the governor’s office, Codey returned to the Senate and also published a memoir that detailed his decades of public service, along with stories about his personal and family life.

“He lived his life with humility, compassion and a deep sense of responsibility to others,” his family wrote. “He made friends as easily with Presidents as he did with strangers in all-night diners.”

Codey and his wife often spoke candidly about her past struggles with postpartum depression, and that led to controversy in early 2005, when a talk radio host jokingly criticized Mary Jo and her mental health on the air.

Codey, who was at the radio station for something else, confronted the host and said he told him that he wished he could “take him outside.” But the host claimed Codey actually threatened to “take him out,” which Codey denied.

His wife told The Associated Press that Codey was willing to support her speaking out about postpartum depression, even if it cost him elected office.

“He was a really, really good guy,” Mary Jo Codey said. “He said, ‘If you want to do it, I don’t care if I get elected again.’”

Jack Brook contributed reporting from New Orleans.

FILE - New Jersey State Sen. and former Democratic Gov. Richard Codey is seen before New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy delivers his State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature at the statehouse, in Trenton, N.J., Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)