Cricket: Change of scene for NZ as test challenge looms

COLOMBO - New Zealand's cricketers escape the Sri Lankan capital's claustrophobic atmosphere for the relative freedom of Galle today.

But the pressure on the team's batsmen remains just as intense.

New Zealand completed the build-up phase to Tuesday's first test at the pretty sea side city on the island's south west coast, drawing a second warm-up match against a Development XI at the Nondescripts Cricket Club.

As a preparation exercise for two tests against an opponent buoyed by their recent success against Pakistan, the stalemates produced mixed results.

Predictably the top order's fluctuating form continues to irritate captain Daniel Vettori, who hit New Zealand's only century when he blazed 106 in the tour opener.

Vettori is accustomed to batting his side out of strife with the lower order, and fellow spinner Jeetan Patel found himself in an identical predicament on Wednesday, his 72 offering New Zealand's first innings a semblance of respectability.

Asked what areas needed attention before New Zealand renew a regular rivalry with Sri Lanka, Vettori pinpointed a standard defi ciency: "It's the usual stuff, the consistency with the bat."

New Zealand carded scores of 297 and 240 for six against a modest bowling line-up featuring one current Sri Lankan test squad member, pace bowler Dhamika Prasad.

Similar innings at the Galle International Stadium are unlikely to stress the Sri Lankans, whose top order is soon to be boosted by the return of aggressive opener Tillakaratne Dilshan from injury.

Dilshan proved the cracked digit was no impediment as he plundered a quick fire 68 from New Zealand's test strength attack on Thursday.

Although Vettori was the only New Zealander to post three figures, the specialist batsmen had their moments though only Ross Taylor was a model of consistency by crafting half centuries in each of his three innings.

Taylor strung together scores of 93, 75 and then a 58 that would have expanded yesterday had he not copped one of four questionable leg before wicket decisions.

Martin Guptill and Daniel Flynn also recorded bests of 54 and 75 respectively in the warm-ups but were unable to repeat the feat while Jesse Ryder's food poisoning restricted him to a single innings of 48 in game one.

Ironically the test batsman with the lowest run output so far supplied New Zealand's batting highlight yesterday by safeguarding an end until the 45th over.

The longevity of opener Tim McIntosh's 136-ball innings outweighed the value of his 43 runs as the left hander displayed the concentration and application required to survive and then thrive on unfamiliar pitches.

"It was really important for Tim to get some time in the middle," Vettori said.

McIntosh echoed his captain's assessment, the relief palpable considering he lasted just four scoreless deliveries in the first innings.

He also exited to a dubious leg before wicket decision but that disappointment was tempered by a belief he was getting to grips with the demands of his first tour of the subcontinent.

"They had some reasonable bowlers, their spinners got quite a lot of turn and hit some pretty good areas. Tight defence was the key for a fair bit of it," he said.

Having been limited to batting indoors at the Eden Park nets until a pre-departure camp in Brisbane, McIntosh was grateful New Zealand's itinerary had been altered to include the two practice matches.

"We'll learn a lot from this. Some of us haven't played here and even though you talk about it, actually doing it is the important thing."

McIntosh said assimilating to low, slow pitches had been the biggest challenge.

"The skiddy sort of bounce is probably the biggest thing.

"Keeping your balance and your shape is pretty important. From a spin point of view you have to be able to make the necessary adjustments when it does start to turn."

- NZPA