Sri Lanka 'A' win by 61 runs

Muthumudalige Pushpakumara produced a fine all round performance to help the Sri Lanka 'A' beat the visiting New Zealand team by 61 runs in a practice limited overs cricket match played at Maitland Place yesterday.

Pushpakumara hit a fighting knock of 42 in their total of 234 runs and then snapped up three wickets for 36 to bundle out the Kiwis for 173 runs.

New Zealand will take on Sri Lanka in the curtain raiser match of the Tri Series tournament on Tuesday at the R. Premadasa Stadium. India are the third team competing in this tournament.

Sri Lanka 'A': 234 in 47.5 overs (T. Kandamby 26, L. Thirimanna 51, M. Pushpakumara 42, G. Rupasinghe 34, D. Chandimal 29, N. Zoysa 26, D. Tuffey 5 for 53, J. Ryder 2 for 18).

New Zealand: 173 in 41.5 overs (B. McCullum 34, J. Ryder 20, J. Oram 37, M. Pushpakumara 3 for 36, D. Fernando 3 for 40).