A little bit of Lincoln damp couldn’t stop New Zealand A getting off to their customary flier as they set off in search of a clean sweep in the one-day series with Sri Lanka A.
Their final 50-over fling was reduced to 45 overs by rain ahead of play, but captain Henry Nicholls’s plan to bat first paid quick dividends. Nisala Tharaka’s opening over was ripped for 19, helped by three George Worker boundaries and a no ball that likewise took off for four as the aggressive opener set off to dominate the early proceedings.
Worker racing ahead, Michael Pollard then found the first six of the innings off Rajitha and New Zealand A’s 50 was on the board inside six overs. The writing was on the wall that Sri Lanka A was already under the pump to contain another relentless batting display.
Lahiru Madushanka’s introduction brought a little relief for Sri Lanka, at least. The paceman started with a welcome maiden, then took Pollard's wicket next over, right on the chime of the 10-over mark.
Pollard’s lbw for 32 off 30 ended the cracking opening stand of 76 with Worker but, when his opening partner was caught and bowled on 47 — just one run shy of the New Zealand A 100 in the 16th over, Michael Bracewell calmly took up the baton through the middle for a 61-ball half century.
Bracewell’s dismissal in the 32nd over brought an unfettered Mitchell Santner to the crease, fresh from his selection for the BLACKCAPS’ Test tour of Australia.
Despite the game’s 45-over cutoff, the young offspinning allrounder put yet another New Zealand A tally of 300 on the cards. The 23-year-old began his innings scoring at a run-a-ball, but finished with fireworks, teeing off four sixes and remaining unbeaten on 70 from 43 balls.
His second six, off Madushanka, raised his half-century off just 33 balls (5 x 4, 2 x 6) and, with steady support from Nicholls (44), he took his side into a strong position for the death charge, finishing at 299/5.
Sri Lanka A needed their 300 at 6.67 per over, but got off to a nightmare start — Matt Quinn dislodging Dickwella in the second over before Neil Wagner made a double strike, getting both Vithanage and Jayasuriya caught behind cheaply in the fifth
The most promising partnership of the innings came between opener Danushka Gunathilaka and Ashan Priyanjan, but when the latter departed on 25 courtesy of Jacob Duffy, New Zealand A put their foot firmly on the throat.
So much had weighed on the shoulders of opener Danushka Gunathilaka, who kept positive as he powered to 39 off 27 balls. His undoing was the first over of spin, bowled by Ish Sodhi, but the greater problem for Sri Lanka A was a lack of support as they teetered at 97/5.
With Chamara Kapugedera unable to bat, the end came swiftly as Quinn and Duffy picked up their second wickets en route to stopping Sri Lanka A at 127/9 inside 26 overs for a 172-run victory and 4-0 series sweep.
The first of two first-class fixtures between the teams starts at Hagley Oval on Saturday.
One-Day series leading stats
Batting
George Worker: 210 runs at 70.00, high score 83*
Kithuruwan Vithanage: 205 runs at 51.25, high score 120
Danushka Gunathilaka: 170 runs at 42.50, high score 65
Henry Nicholls: 169 runs at 84.50, high score 79*
Michael Bracewell: 156 runs at 52.00, high score 83
Michael Pollard: 145 runs at 48.33, high score 59
Mitchell Santner: 102 runs at 102.00, high score 70*
Bowling
Ish Sodhi: 8 wickets at 19.12, best 3/28
Mitchell Santner: 7 wickets at 16.71, best 4/38
Shehan Jayasuriya: 6 wickets at 32.66, best 3/52
Adam Milne: 5 wickets at 16.20, best 3/49 (two matches)