Hopkins half-century helps NZ A to solid platform

New Zealand A will defend a total of 240 on the final day [Sunday] of their tournament in Chennai, India.

Batting first against Baroda in their third-round match in the Buchi Babu tournament, the New Zealanders faced a day’s hard grind on a difficult wicket – in use for the third time in a week.

Openers Aaron Redmond (13) and Jamie How (22) got starts but were unable to kick on. Captain Peter Fulton found form with a tenacious innings of 40 from 138 deliveries, combining with Neil Broom (36) to post 72 for the third wicket.

Gareth Hopkins, who will next week join the Blackcaps for duties in the One Day International series in Sri Lanka, top scored with 53 off 116 balls before being run out. Hopkins and Kyle Mills (33) added 76 in a seventh-wicket partnership, but with the final three wickets falling for only five runs the side was dismissed for 240 in 86.5 overs.

Two bowlers did the damage for Baroda, with right arm medium pacer Murtuja Vahora taking five for 34, and left arm spinner Vishwanath Parmar claiming four for 69.

Baroda faced one over at the end of the day, reaching five for no wicket at stumps. Resuming in the morning on a pitch offering slow, inconsistent bounce and turn, New Zealand A will need to perform well in the field to secure a win – as they look to end a disappointing tournament on a high note.

Short scorecard:
New Zealand A – 240 all out in 86.5 overs (Hopkins 53, Fulton 40, Broom 36, Mills 33, How 22; Varoda 5/34, Parmar 4/69)