Cricket: Emerging players crash

Test batsman Martin Guptill's presence could not prevent another cricket defeat for the New Zealand Emerging Players, by three wickets to Australian Institute of Sport in Brisbane yesterday.

Batting first in the one-day match, New Zealand EP were dismissed for 217 in the 50th over, and the AIS suffered some middle order jitters before reaching their target in the 40th over.

It left New Zealand EP winless from their first five matches at the emerging players quadrangular tournament also involving South Africa and India.

Batting was again the problem, with captain Peter Fulton's innings of 60 the only valuable contribution from the top six.

Guptill, preparing for New Zealand's tour of Sri Lanka, scored 23 after his opening innings of three against India EP on Friday.

AIS made a flying start with an opening stand of 94 off 14 overs. Allrounder Steve Smith guided the AIS home with an unbeaten 54 after they slumped to 162 for six.

- NZPA