Masterton?s bright new star

MASTERTON cricketer Ross Taylor salutes the crowd after scoring a century for New Zealand against Sri Lanka at Napier's McLean Park yesterday. Taylor, 22, playing in only his third international, was unbeaten on 128 and although the Black Caps went on to lose against a swashbuckling Sri Lankan side, Taylor's exhilarating but composed performance, which included 12 fours and four sixes, had commentators predicting the young batsman will be on his way to the World Cup this year. The other Wairarapa cricketer competing, bowler Michael Mason, had a less memorable day, finding himself on the wrong end of rampaging Sri Lankan batsmen and going for 60 runs off his six overs. Sri Lanka won the match by seven wickets with 10 overs in hand.