New Zealand warm up with eight-run win over Zimbabwe

Daryl Tuffey cleaned up Raymond Price (11) in the final over of the match to end an enterprising 40-run last wicket partnership between Price and Douglas Hondo (29*) which had threatened New Zealand in the warm up game at Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground, Colombo on Thursday.

In the morning New Zealand won the toss and decided to bat first. Skipper Stephen Fleming opened the innings with Nathan Astle, and struggled to score freely against the likes of Heath Streak and Douglas Hondo on a track with a bit of uneven bounce. Fleming made just five off 22 balls and edged one to Andy Flower behind the wicket off the bowling of Heath Streak.

Nathan Astle looked good for a big score, striking four boundaries in making 23 off 28 balls, before being caught behind off the young right-arm medium pacer Sean Ervine. Lou Vincent gave good support to Matthew Sinclair as the two put together 82 valuable runs for the third wicket. Sinclair was more adventurous, not missing out on a scoring opportunity.

Vincent did not hit a boundary in his 21 off 60 balls, and was stumped by Andy Flower off Douglas Marillier. Sinclair, who had gone past his half century by then, was joined by Scott Styris.

Sinclair completed a fine hundred, finishing with 108 off 112 balls with the help of a six and eleven fours. His was the fourth wicket to fall, bowled by Douglas Marillier with New Zealand on 192. Styris scored freely and made 49 off 56 balls before he was bowled by Ervine.

Glenn Sulzberger threw his bat at the end to score 30 off just 14 balls to take New Zealand to 262/7 off their alloted 50 overs. Ervine was the most successful of the Zimbabwe bowlers, picking up 3/44.

Zimbabwe lost opener Alistair Campbell (8 off 24 balls) early in their run chase. Marillier, in his new role of opening batsman, improvised to score 37 off 42 balls with the help of half a dozen boundaries. Marillier was finally run out and that started a major slide for the Zimbabweans.

With Dion Ebrahim standing firm at one end, they lost four wickets wickets for just 14 runs. Grant Flower (4) and Andy Flower for a golden duck were removed by Jacob Oram. Guy Whittall and Ebrahim then scored runs with ease to add 64 for the sixth wicket.

Zimbabwe lost Ebrahim (62 off 87 balls), Ervin (8 off 7), Whittall (66 off 65) and Heath Streak (15 off 24) were all gone and Zimbabwe were in a hopeless situation at 214/9. It was then that Hondo and Price put together their brilliant last wicket partnership.