Vettori leads way for Kiwis

Vettori leads way for Kiwis

Tour match, Colombo: Sri Lanka A 264; New Zealand 27-0 (at close)

Full scorecard

Vettori could be a key figure for New Zealand in the Tests

The New Zealand bowlers did well to work their way through the home side's batting line-up in their final warm-up game before the first Test.

Every Sri Lanka A batsman reached double figures with the exception of tail-ender Tharanga Lakshitha, who was caught behind from the second ball he faced.

But no-one was able to go on and play a major innings as the tourists kept the scoring rate in check.

Slow left-armer Daniel Vettori was the most successful with 3-72, and there were two wickets each for paceman Shane Bond and off-spinner Paul Wiseman.

Sri Lanka A struggled to 158-6 despite a third wicket stand of 63 between TM Dilshan (39) and Naveed Nawaz (35).

But their total was boosted by some enterprising batting from all-ropunder Upul Chandana, who struck nine fours in making 55 off 62 balls.

He was eventually removed by Vettori, courtesy of a catch by Wiseman, who finished off the innings with the last two wickets to fall.

New Zealand were left with seven overs to face before the close, and did so without loss.

Mark Richardson followed up his unbeaten century against the Sri Lankan Academy by making 19 not out off 21 balls, with Matt Horne finishing the day on four.

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Scorecard:

Sri Lanka A 1st innings:
MG Vandort c Vettori b Tuffey 19
GI Daniel c Wiseman b Bond 15
TM Dilshan c Butler b Vettori 39
MN Nawaz c Oram b Bond 25
RP Arnold b Butler 14
HAPW Jayawardene c Jones b Oram 22
MSR Wijeratne not out 38
UDU Chandana c Wiseman b Vettori 55
MTT Mirando c Butler b Wiseman 23
ABT Lakshitha c Hart b Wiseman 0
AS Polonowita c Wiseman b Vettori 20

Extras (lb 9, nb 5) 14
Total (for 9 wickets, 80.3 overs) 264

Fall: 1-24 2-42 3-105 4-120 5-140 6-158 7-179 8-259 9-284

Bowling: Tuffey 10-3-26-1, Bond 13-5-35-2, Butler
13-2-57-1, Oram 9-2-22-1, Vettori 19-1-72-3, Wiseman 16.3-3-63-2

New Zealand 1st innings:
MH Richardson not out 19
MJ Horne not out 4

Extras (nb 4) 4
Total (for no wicket, 7 overs) 27

Bowling: Lakshitha 3-0-17-0, Ranjith 3-0-10-0, Chandana 1-1-0-0.