Mitchell Santner smashed an unbeaten 70 off just 43 balls to set up a comfortable win for New Zealand A against the visiting Sri Lanka A team at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln today.
The All-rounder, better known for his left arm spin, powered the Kiwi side to 299 for the loss of 5 wickets.
The Kiwi top order continued to show their form in this game too, with the top 7 batters all getting starts, but it was the power hitting of Santner that propelled them to a total of 299. Batting first after having won the toss, NZ A’s openers George Worker and Michael Pollard got them off to a quick start in the 1st ten overs. However the Lankan bowlers lead by Leg spinner Jeffrey Vandersay, made a brief comeback into the game with some tight bowling in the middle overs. Santner and skipper Henry Nicholls then put on a partnership of 98 to ensure that NZ A posted a competitive target. Vandersay, playing his 1st match of the series, was the only noteworthy performer for SL A with 1 for 32 in 9 overs. Every other bowler went for over 5 runs an over.
The total proved to be more than enough for the Kiwis as none of the SL A batmen were able to get going as they folded for 127 in 25.4 overs. The chase began disastrously with newly promoted opener Niroshan Dickwella being dismissed in just the 2nd over by Matt Quinn. Key batsman Kithruwan Vithanage came and went and Shehan Jayasuriya followed soon after as the scorecard read 31/3 in the 5th over. Danushka Gunathilaka put up some resistance with 39, but will rue the missed opportunity to make a big hundred as this was his 3rd 30 plus score of the series. By the 15th over Sri Lanka A’s top 5 batters were back in the pavilion, giving them almost no chance of chasing down the Kiwi target. It was truly a team effort by the NZ A bowlers as all 5 of them picked up wickets. Medium pacer Jacob Duffy was the pick of the bowlers finishing with 2 wickets at 1.86 runs an over. Not content with his swashbuckling innings, Santner also chipped in with a wicket and a run out to cap off an excellent day.
With this win NZ A completed a series whitewash against the Lankans. The margins of victory are also something to consider with only the 2nd ODI producing a close match. SL A lost the 1st, 3rd and 4th ODIs by 8 wickets, 117 runs and 172 runs respectively.
The two teams will next lock horns in two unofficial test matches from the 17th to the 27th of October.
