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New Zealand 'A' win

Saturday, April 3 2004

New Zealand 'A's dominance of the touring Sri Lankan 'A' continues with a 46 run win over Sri Lanka 'A' at Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Christchurch.

New Zealand won the toss and batted first on a good wicket and made a good start putting on 56 for the first wicket. Jamie How and Mathew Sinclair were scoring at a good rate before Dhilara Fernando dismissed Sinclair caught by Prassana Jaywardene - the Sri Lanka 'A' wicket keeper - for 31 off 48 balls.

How and Hamish Marshall put together 24 runs before some good piece of fielding left Marshall short of his crease - run out for 12 off 11 balls - leaving New Zealand at 80-2. Ross Taylor didn't last long being stumped by Jayawardene off the bowling of Kashual Lokuarachchi for 4. New Zealand in trouble at 89-3.

Lou Vincent offered some stable support making his way to 22 before Sri Lankan spinner Jehan Mubarak trapped Vincent LBW. Sri Lanka had New Zealand at 129-4. It was a double delight for Sri Lanka with Mubarak dismissing How - who had just passed 50 - caught and bowled for 53. New Zealand in deep trouble at 134-5.

Chris Harris (44*) and Gareth Hopkins (32) rescueded New Zealand from being bowled out for less then 200, by keeping the run rate ticking along and put together 58 before Lokuarachchi lured Hopkins from out his crease and beat him in the air and was stumped by Jayawardene for 32. New Zealand were left at 192-6, but it could have been much worse. Kyle Mills lasted two balls before being bowled by Lokuarachchi for 0. New Zealand at 192-7, and the prospect of being bowled out for 200 or less was on the cards.

Lokuarachchi finished with his spell with 10-3-35-3.

New Zealand were able to get the score past 200 before Dilhara dismissed Martin for 6 caught by Kandamby with New Zealand at 207-8. Shane Bond playing his match in 12 months recovering from a career threatening stress fractured related back injury made three before being bowled by Malinga for 3. New Zealand at 214-9.

New Zealand 'A' finished at 224-9 off their 50 overs. Chris Harris finished unbeaten on 44. Lokuarachchi was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers with 3-35.

Mubarak and Ian Daniel put together 26 before Mubarak was bowled by Kyle Mills for 14. It was the ideal start for the New Zealanders.

Daniel and Silva steadied the ship for a short while, putting together 36 before Mills dismissed Silva caught by Marshall for a quick fire 23 with the score on 62. Mohammad Nawaz made 11 before being caught by Taylor off the bowling of Bruce Martin. New Zealand were on top reducing Sri Lanka to 83-3.

It was 84-4 when Harris had Daniel caught by Vincent for 32. It didn't get better for Sri Lanka with Thilian Samaraweera stumped by Hopkins off the bowling of Martin for 4. Sri Lanka in deep trouble at 94-5.

Kandamby and Jayawardene gave Sri Lanka some brief hope, putting together 38 before Mills made another breakthrough dismissing Kandamby for 22 off 24 balls. Sri Lanka were in the mire at 132-6. Nine runs later Mills hit another nail in Sri Lanka's coffin dismissing Jayawardene in identical fashion as Kandamby for 31. Sri Lanka on the back foot at 141-7.

Mills finished with figures of 8-2-25-4.

Mahroof made 8 before Martin struck again caught by How, leaving Sri Lanka at 165-8. The game was all but wrapped up one run later with Lokuarachchi bowled by Harris for 16. Sri Lanka were at 166-9, with the game all but over.

Dilhara and Malinga put on 12 before Malinga was caught and bowled for 4 by Harrs. Sri Lanka all out for 178 with New Zealand winning by 46 runs.

No Sri Lankan batsman was able to get past 50. Mills was the pick of the New Zealand bowlers with 4-25.

New Zealand 224-9 (How 59, Harris 44*, Hopkins 32; Lokuarachchi 3-35, Mubarak 2-25, Fernando 2-46)
Sri Lanka 178 (Daniel 32, Jayawardene 31, Silva 23; Mills 4-23, Harris 3-27, B.Martin 3-39)

Results: New Zealand 'A' won by 46 runs.






Posted by Craig