Cricket: Cairns cracks late sixes to boost NZ

12.30am - UPDATE


DHAKA - A characteristic late flurry of sixes from Chris Cairns took the Black Caps to 250 for seven from their fifty overs in the third one-day cricket match in Bangladesh today.

Cairns cleared the fence three times enroute to 34 off 16 balls as New Zealand scored freely off the Bangladesh attack in the closing overs.

Cairns was caught on the last ball of the innings while Daniel Vettori contributed 18 from 10 balls.

Earlier Scott Styris, who scored 51 and Craig McMillan combined for a crucial 86 run partnership for the fifth wicket, when after another strong start, New Zealand lost quick wickets in the middle of their innings.

The mini-slump saw four batsmen fall for 33 runs when Sinclair, on 65 hit a turning delivery back to Rafique for a simple caught and bowled in the 26th over.

By this time the 20,000 strong crowd broke into their first Mexican wave as the prospect of another batting collapse loomed at 105 for four.

But Styris and McMillan showed good patience to steady the innings as they picked the Bangladeshi bowlers off.

The pair raised 150 from 240 balls in the 40th over, then McMillan ended the boundary drought which lasted for 20 overs with a six over long with seven overs remaining.

Styris followed suit as they started to charge building to 191 until McMillan on 39 gave Rafique his second caught and bowled ending their well fought partnership.

Cairns saw himself in while Styris marched to his 10th ODI half century in the 45th over taking just 66 balls with one boundary and a solitary six.

But his valuable innings ended on 51 the next over when he skied a catch to third man as they looked to increase the scoring with Rafique taking his fourth wicket.

Scoreboard

New Zealand

N Astle run out 27

M Sinclair c&b Rafique 66

C Harris lbw b Ahmed 9

H Marshall c Saleh b Rafique 0

S Styris c Kapali b Rafique 51

C McMillan c&b Rafique 39

C Cairns c Saleh b Baisya 34

D Vettori not out 18

Extras (3lb, 3w) 6

Total (for 7 wkts, 50 overs) 250

Fall: 72 (Astle), 99 (Harris), 102 (Marshall), 105 (Sinclair), 191 (McMillan), 207 (Styris), 250 (Cairns)

Bowling: T Baisya 5-0-35-1, M Rahman 8-1-28-0, A Ahmed 10-0-36-1, M Rana 9-0-46-0 (3w), M Rafique 10-0-63-4, R Saleh 4-0-18-0, A Kapali 4-0-21-0.


- NZPA