Sinclair, McMillan star in New Zealand win

Kunal Pradhan

Brisk half centuries from Mathew Sinclair and Craig McMillan helped New Zealand record a comfortable 164-run victory over Sri Lanka 'A' on Monday.

The visitors made 293 for six from their allotted 50 overs and then bowled out the local side for 129 in a warm-up game ahead of a triangular one-day tournament, also involving India and hosts Sri Lanka, which starts on Wednesday.

Sinclair and Nathan Astle (48) put on 119 for the opening wicket to take the initiative away from the local side, which had elected to field after winning the toss.

Sinclair hit Sri Lanka's bowlers for boundaries on all sides of the wicket before reaching his 50 with a cover drive to the boundary off paceman Omesh Wijesiriwardene.

He was finally dismissed for 64, off 70 balls and including nine boundaries, when he was bowled by paceman Kaushalya Weerarathne while trying to play across the line to a ball pitched on off-stump.

Captain Stephen Fleming (22) and Chris Harris (28) kept the scoreboard ticking before McMillan clobbered the bowlers for 59 runs off 53 balls, which included four fours and two huge sixes.

His innings propped up the New Zealand total on a slow wicket where the ball was stopping before coming on to the bat.

Pace bowlers Daryl Tuffey and Kyle Mills skittled the Sri Lanka top order, picking up two wickets each to reduce them to 39 for four.

All-rounder Dion Nash and left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori had successful returns from back injuries which had sidelined them for almost a year.

Nash picked up the wicket of Upul Chandana, having him caught at mid-off by Craig McMillan for 11 while Vettori had Pushpakumara caught at long-on for the same score.

Nash also took three catches.

Captain Thilan Samaraweera was the highest scorer with 41.

Organisers allowed both teams to field 12 players after New Zealand requested an extra man in order to give more of their squad playing time ahead of the tri-series.

One of the players from each team was not permitted to bat while another did not bowl or field.

New Zealand left out all-rounder Grant Bradburn and left-arm paceman James Franklin from their 14-member squad.

Mail Cricket Editor