Comfortable win for NZ 'A'

The touring New Zealand 'A' team gained a massive psychological edge ahead of the triangular series when they outplayed the Sri Lanka 'A' team by a massive margin of 153 runs in a warm up match played at the Colts CC grounds, Havelock Park yesterday.

After having piled up 323 for 6 from their 50 overs the visitors then got their act together well on the field and bundled out the home side for just 170 runs. Dynamic all rounder Chris Harris played a dominant role in their success scoring a run a ball 77 not out with three fours and four sixes and later picked up three wickets for 33.

Earlier left hander Jesse Ryder completed a superb century scoring exactly one hundred from 91 balls with the help of two sixes and thirteen fours. He put on 101 runs for the second wicket with Michael Pepps and added a further 95 for the third wicket along with Mathew Sinclair. Chris Harris and Garath Hopkings added the finishing touches to the innings in style putting on 105 runs for the sixth wcket in just 85 balls.

New Zealand 'A': 323 for 6 in 50 overs (Jesse Ryder 100, Michael Pepps 30, Chris Harris 77 n.o, Garath Hopkings 31, Mathew Sinclair 33, Suraj Mohamed 2 for 74, Jeewan Mendis 2 for 59).

Sri Lanka 'A': 170 in 38.5 overs (Upul Tharanga 23, Michael van Dort 33, Jeewan Mendis 46, Chris Harris 3 for 33, J. Patel 2 for 28, J. Franklyn 2 for 41, Jesse Ryder 2 for 1).

- C.D.