Cricket: Bell comes on as NZ goes down

New Zealand suffered the second consecutive loss of their England cricket tour when they were beaten by three wickets by Sri Lanka A in a one-day match at Milton Keynes yesterday morning.

New Zealand scored 243 for six wickets in their 50 overs but Sri Lanka A scored the winning runs with 11 balls left and seven wickets down.

New Zealand, who included all five members of the touring squad who missed the first test loss to England, made a healthy start.

Opening batsmen Matthew Bell and Roger Twose had welcome time in the middle against a Sri Lankan bowling attack including former internationals Ravindra Pushpakumara and Pramodya Wickramasinghe.

Bell and Twose added 129 for the first wicket, Twose smacking 84 before he was first out to a leg before wicket decision.

Bell, a possibility to resume his test career in the second test at Lord's in a fortnight, grafted 55 runs while his captain Stephen Fleming was dismissed for four.

New Zealand were healthily placed at 137 for two after 32 overs but only added another 106 runs from the final 18 overs.

Chris Harris, another player looking to force his way into the test side, scored 28 batting at No 4.

In-form Adam Parore, playing as a specialist batsman at No 5 with Martyn Croy keeping wicket, scored 35.

Sri Lanka A were always on target to win, as their top three batsmen topped 30 and two reached the 70s.

Chris Cairns, who made 14 runs with the bat, was the pick of the New Zealand bowlers with two for 20 off seven overs. Both his wickets were from catches by Bell.

The rest of the bowlers were expensive.

Geoff Allott took one for 40 off 9.1 overs while fellow left-arm opening bowler Shayne O'Connor claimed the most wickets with three for 60 off his 10 overs.

Left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori took none for 56 off 10 overs, Harris took none for 39 off eight overs while legspinner Brooke Walker conceded 24 runs off four overs.

Twose, who seemed back to the form he showed during the World Cup, was doubtful as to the value of the one-day game in the middle of a test series.

"A few people had some time at the crease and bowlers had a bit of time," Twose said.

"It's something we need to reflect on ... if we did or didn't get anything out of the game."

New Zealand will have a more valuable workout starting tonight (NZT) in a four-day match against Hampshire at Southampton. - NZPA