Cricket: Tuffey takes five wickets on comeback

Daryl Tuffey marked his low-key comeback to the New Zealand cricket team with a five-wicket haul as Sri Lanka A were restricted to 234 in their one-day match at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground yesterday.

The Auckland pace bowler's recall has never attracted quite the interest of fellow former Indian Cricket League renegade Shane Bond, but the 31-year-old made the most of his first appearance on tour by taking five for 53 from 9.5 overs.

Sri Lanka A were dismissed in 47.5 overs after opting to bat first, leaving New Zealand a target of 235 if they are to record their third consecutive victory on tour.

Tuffey initially continued veteran Sanath Jayasuriya's poor returns against the tourists when he had the opener caught at the wicket by Gareth Hopkins for two - a brief innings that follows concerning scores of one and seven in last week's Twenty20 internationals. Jayasuriya departed to the second ball of Tuffey's second over then the right armer had Mahela Udawatte caught by stand-in captain Brendon McCullum at mid-off to have an impressive analysis of two for 12 from his first five-over spell.

Tuffey, who last represented New Zealand at the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean, will not play in the upcoming Tri-Series involving India but his performance yesterday should hold him in good stead for the Champions Trophy in South Africa starting on September 22.

His second spell was also successful - Lahira Thirimanna was swiftly removed for 51 and Gihan Rupasinghe for 34, ensuring Sri Lanka A could not truly recover from a predicament that saw them plunge to 14 for three inside eight overs.

But Tuffey did suffer in his third spell as Sri Lanka A tailender Nuwan Zoysa produced some lusty blows in clubbing 26 from 11 balls.

Earlier Dinesh Chandimal, who made a century against New Zealand in a pre-test warm-up match last month, and Muthu Pushpakumara at least ensured Sri Lanka A passed 200.

However, they were also out in quick succession after adding 64 for the seventh wicket. Chandimal (29) fell victim to a Jeetan Patel direct hit and two runs later Pushpakumara's breezy 42 from 30 balls ended when he top-edged a Jesse Ryder delivery to Martin Guptill at extra cover.

New Zealand took the opportunity to give fringe squad members a run, with wicketkeeper Hopkins plus all rounders Grant Elliott and Brendon Diamanti also having their first games on tour.

Ryder's two for 18 and Patel (1-48) were the other wicket takers.

Captain Daniel Vettori, Ross Taylor, Bond and Kyle Mills had the day off to rest up before New Zealand's ODI against Sri Lanka at R Premadasa Stadium tomorrow (9pm NZT).

New Zealand then play India on Friday. The two top teams contest Monday's final before New Zealand head to South Africa.

- NZPA