Cricket: Watling highlight for NZ

BJ Watling. Photo / Getty Images

A half century by opener BJ Watling was the solitary batting highlight as the Sri Lanka-bound New Zealand cricket team beat Indian side Maharashtra by nine runs in their opening one-day warm-up game in Darwin today.

Watling's 55 from 83 balls was the only innings of substance as New Zealand struggled to 173 before being bowled out in 43.3 overs at Tracy Village.

Fortunately New Zealand bowled tightly to restrict the Indians to 164 for eight - allrounder Jacob Oram claimed three for 29 from 10 overs while Kyle Mills (2-28) was also effective.

New Zealand were reduced to 89 for five after losing Martin Guptill (8), captain Ross Taylor (18), Kane Williamson (11), Grant Elliott (9) and Peter Ingram (4) cheaply.

Watling knuckled down to toil more than two hours in hot conditions, stroking three boundaries, before he was the sixth wicket to fall on 118.

A run-a-ball 26 from tailender Daryl Tuffey then enabled New Zealand to post a semi-respectable total before their seven-pronged attack all bowled economically to contain the Indian's batting line-up.

The teams play again on Wednesday and Friday before New Zealand head to Sri Lanka for a Tri-Series also involving India.

New Zealand 173 (BJ Watling 55; Jitendra Patil 3-30) beat Maharashtra 164-8 (Rohan Bhosale 40; Jacob Oram 3-29, Kyle Mills 2-28) by 9 runs.

- NZPA