Cricket: CD beat Selection XI in warm-up

Central Districts beat a New Zealand Selection X1 by four wickets in Christchurch yesterday in an encouraging build-up to next week's international limited-overs cricket tournament.

Central will take on the national one-day competition winners from Australia, India and South Africa for the Champions Cup in Perth.

Openers Jamie How and David Kelly put Central firmly on course for victory with a 109-run partnership after their bowlers had dismissed the Selection X1 for 180 in 43.3 overs.

How's 64, scored from 84 balls, included seven fours and a six.

Although wickets tumbled after How left, Kelly ensured they did not fall at both ends. He was sixth out at 167, having faced 110 balls for his 54.

Medium-fast bowler Ewen Thompson had destroyed the Selection X1, dismissing Chris Gaffaney, Jarrod Englefield and Lou Vincent at the top of the order, before returning to complete a five-wicket haul.

Aaron Redmond and Gareth Hopkins stopped the slide with a 45-run stand for the fifth wicket, but the bottom order went cheaply.

The foundation laid by How and Kelly was sufficient to ensure victory for Central, even though Glen Sulzberger and Jacob Oram were among those dismissed cheaply.

- NZPA