New Zealand A secures second warm-up win
New Zealand A has notched up a second warm-up win in India – spinners Nathan McCullum and Tarun Nethula leading the side to a 34 run win over a Tamil Nadu Cricket Association XI at Chennai.
After setting Tamil Nadu a target of 280 on Wednesday, the New Zealanders put in a strong performance with the ball, maintaining a consistent length throughout the second day.
McCullum and Nethula were the standouts with three wickets each, while Tim Southee, Kyle Mills and Kane Williamson picked up a wicket apiece.
Tamil Nadu started strongly with an opening partnership of 48, which was broken by an outstanding full length dive, gather and direct hit runout from BJ Watling.
New Zealand A then collected wickets steadily throughout the innings, reducing the Tamil Nadu XI to 178 for 9. A last wicket counter-attack added 68 and pushed the score to 246 before Williamson bowled the final batsman, securing a comfortable win.
McCullum finished with 3 for 79 from his 23 overs, Nethula took 3 for 90 from 21.
For Tamil Nadu, Sijith Chandran top scored with 59.
The victory gives New Zealand A two wins from its two warm-up matches in Chennai. The team plays the opening match in the Buchi Babu All India Invitation Tournament on Sunday and Monday.
Short scorecard:
New Zealand A 280 all out in 89.5 overs (How 44, Broom 40, Watling 38, Williamson 31, McGlashan 28, McCullum 23; Shah 4/69)
Tamil Nadu Cricket Association XI 246 all out in 76.2 overs (Chandran 59, Babu 38, Joseph 34; McCullum 3/79, Nethula 3/90)
Win to New Zealand A by 34 runs
Full scorecard:
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