Cricket: Henry appealing for further action

Matt Henry took four early wickets to put New Zealand in control. Photo / Getty

Seamer Matt Henry is only listed at this point to be in the New Zealand squad for the first two ODIs against Sri Lanka.

If that acted as a motivating tool for the Canterbury fast-medium bowler, it certainly worked.

Henry ripped the top off Sri Lanka's batting at Hagley Oval yesterday. He took four wickets in the space of 16 balls to have the tourists sagging at 27 for five.

New Zealand duly wrapped up a crushing seven-wicket win with 29 overs unbowled.

Henry had experienced opener Tillekaratne Dilshan skying an attempted pull to mid wicket; removed Lahiru Thirimanne lbw; had key batsman, captain Angelo Mathews, smartly caught at second slip by Tom Latham first ball, then had Dinesh Chandimal edge a catch to Ross Taylor at first slip.

It's the fourth time Henry has taken four or more wickets in an ODI. He denied the two-game line is any sort of spur.

''Any time you put the shirt on you're trying your best anyway," he said.

''The main thing is to focus on your job. We've put our preparation in and you hope when you get out there you express yourself and make sure you do your best with your plans."

Senior seamers Tim Southee and Trent Boult are being rested in the early stage of the series. Henry, Adam Milne, Doug Bracewell and Mitch McClenaghan all played their part in an assertive bowling display yesterday.

''Those two guys (Southee and Boult) are serious bowlers and for us to get some opportunities over their break is great. The way we bowled today was fantastic."

Henry has now taken 32 ODI wickets in 17 games, at 25.4 apiece, good numbers and with competition stiff among the fast-medium bowlers, a good time to produce another strong display.

The other good point for Henry and co yesterday was they didn't have to bowl at New Zealand openers Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill, who roared to a 108-run stand in just 10.1 overs to help set up the win.

''Watching the two of them bat together is fantastic. Over the last 12 months the two of them have taken down some very good attacks."

Sri Lankan coach Jerome Jayaratne had some thoughts on how to curtail McCullum's batting rampages; it's just his bowlers were powerless yesterday.

''We have to stick to our game plan," he said.

''McCullum is a guy who likes a lot of width. You have to bring the ball into him. If he misses we hit. You have to keep tight lines here."

Sri Lanka will get another chance, same time, same place on Monday.