Quantcast

NZ smash huge total in warm-up win

Black Caps feast on Sri Lankan bowlers as Munro and Anderson shine

Colin Munro has the potential to star at the ICC World Twenty20 according to New Zealand teammate Corey Anderson after the pair bludgeoned Sri Lanka in their first warm-up game.

The Black Caps powered to a 74-run win in Mumbai in an encouraging performance five days out from their tournament opener against India.

After winning the toss, New Zealand struck an avalanche of boundaries in compiling 226-5 before Sri Lanka responded with 152-7.

Opener Martin Guptill struck the first ball for six and raced to 41 off 25 balls.

However, his efforts were eclipsed by Munro's 67 off 34 and Anderson's 60 off 29 in a team innings which featured 14 sixes.

Anderson retired, allowing allrounder Grant Elliott to continue the aggression with 36 off 21.

Sri Lanka's hopes virtually ended when they were reduced to 19-2 in the fifth over before Lahiru Thirimanne (41) and Chamara Kapugedera (38) restored respectability.

Paceman Adam Milne took 3-26 off four overs and leg-spinner Ish Sodhi 2-19 off three, while new-ball pair Tim Southee and Anderson claimed one scalp each.

Anderson deflected praise to Munro, who he says has established himself as a genuine international force in the shortened form.

Stocky left-hander Munro forced a place in New Zealand's T20 squad with several big-hitting displays over the home summer, including a Black Caps-record 50 off 14 balls against Sri Lanka at Eden Park.

WATCH: Munro smashes second-fastest T20 50 Capture

"He's a hell of a player. He's been doing that domestically for a long time now," Anderson said.

"Colin took his chance during our home summer and he's gone in leaps and strides to become a No.3 in this team. He's just banging it every game basically. It's tough to bowl to him when he's in this form."

Anderson believes New Zealand will take confidence from the win, which included a slick fielding effort at the batting-friendly Wankhede Stadium.

The only disappointment was losing a subsequent "super over" practice game, with both teams keen to trial the method used to decide tied games. Sri Lanka scored 26 off Mitchell McClenaghan's over before the Black Sticks responded with 20.

New Zealand play a second warm-up game against England at the same venue on Saturday.