Published: Oct 23, 2015, 02:11 PM (IST)
Edited: Nov 01, 2015, 03:31 PM (IST)
Canberra: Opener Tom Latham topscored with 131 off 127 balls as New Zealand amassed 307 for eight in their one-day tour match against the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra on Friday. The pink ball was no issue for openers Martin Guptill(94) and Latham, who put on an opening stand of 196 off 33.5 overs, representing the second biggest by a visiting side in the history of the traditional tour fixture at Manuka Oval. But the momentum was halted by Gutpill’s dismissal performance in the 34th over, with the Black Caps going on to lose another seven wickets for just 106 runs. LIVE CRICKET UPDATES: New Zealand vs Prime Minister’s XI 2015-16, tour match at Canberra
The flat wicket proved an issue early on for Peter Siddle (1 for 54), out to press his claims for a spot in the Australian Test side following an outstanding display in the fifth Ashes Test in England. The slow wicket meant not much movement and little opportunity for the veteran paceman to do damage.
He had Guptill caught on 11, only for it to be called a no ball. The opener was eventually caught out on the boundary off a Mark Steketee (1 for 79) ball just shy of a century. A bit of swing later in the day helped Siddle claim his first scalp in Latham.
Jason Behrendorff got three wickets for 56 runs, while Ashton Agar (1 for 52) and David Hussey (1 for 40) also got a wicket. The pressure was on the PM’s XI batsmen, many of whom are fighting to fill vacancies in Steve Smith’s Test team following the retirement of several veterans.
Bancroft, Usman Khawaja and Joe Burns are among those hoping to catch the eye of selectors, including chairman Rod Marsh, who was at the ground.
The Kiwis are without skipper Brendon McCullum, who rested after recently returning from London where he gave evidence in the perjury trial of his former teammate Chris Cairns.
BJ Watling, Kane Williamson and Matt Henry also sat out the day-nighter, but are expected to play a role in the two-day red-ball match against the Cricket Australia XI on Saturday and Sunday.
