BLACKCAPS XI 373-5 (Williamson 45, Taylor 77, Elliott 106*, Ronchi 106*; Sheikh 3-49) beat Leicestershire 175 (Robson 67, McClenaghan 4-31) by 198 runs at Grace Road
Unbeaten centuries from Luke Ronchi and Grant Elliott have helped the BLACKCAPS to a 198-run victory in their one-day warm up match against Leicestershire today at Grace Road.
The Wellington Firebirds duo, who combined for a world-record partnership of 267* in Dunedin against Sri Lanka in January, were at it again as they produced a match-winning partnership of 221 runs from 151 deliveries. Listen to Grant Elliott review the performance:
The BLACKCAPS XI posted an impressive 373-5 and Leicestershire never came close; they were bowled out for 175 in the 43rd over as they chased an unlikely victory in fine conditions.
Leicester opener Angus Robson (67) top-scored for the home side, who fought valiantly but came up well short.
Mitchell McClenaghan (4-31) was the best of the BLACKCAPS' bowling attack, with good support from Mitchell Santner (2-34) and Ben Wheeler (1-36), but the talking point of the day was the sixth wicket partnership that couldn’t be broken.
Ronchi, who impressed with 88 on Test debut last week at Headingley, continued his good form with the bat when he hit 106 from 76 balls in his seventh List A ton.
The 34-year-old brought up his century from only 71 balls with a pull shot through square leg, capping an innings in which he hit 13 fours and two sixes.
Meanwhile, Elliott, playing against his County side, was the rock at the other end as the BLACKCAPS pair flayed the Foxes’ attack, going at more than eight runs an over.
Elliott brought up his century with a lofted straight drive down the ground. His run-a-ball innings against his “teammates” included 12 fours and two sixes.
Earlier, Ross Taylor (77) and Kane Williamson (45) set the platform with an 87-run partnership at the top of the order.
Leicestershire were not at their best in the field, but left-arm fast bowler Atif Sheikh was the most impressive of the home side’s attack as he finished with figures of 3-49 from nine overs.
BLACKCAPS skipper McCullum had won the toss and elected to bat.
He named two new players with Mitchell Santner and Ben Wheeler coming in for their first one-day matches for New Zealand.
The BLACKCAPS got off to a slow start, losing openers McCullum (9) and Martin Guptill (4) within the first seven overs.
McCullum began in typically aggressive fashion with two fours in his first three balls before he got a bouncing and seaming delivery from Sheikh which got the edge through to wicketkeeper Lewis Hill.
Four overs later, Sheikh claimed Guptill when the BLACKCAPS opener dragged on a delivery that he was looking to drive through the covers.
Taylor joined Williamson at the crease and the pair began the recovery. Listen to Ross Taylor speaking to the media post-match:
Taylor brought up his 50 with two consecutive sixes. He hit six fours and four sixes in his 77 from 62 balls that was free-flowing from start to finish.
The partnership ended when Williamson was removed by one of the finest one-handed catches you are likely to see, from Ned Eckersley at short cover. It was so good that Williamson shook his hand on the way off.
Two overs later, Taylor joined him on the walk back to the pavilion when he found the edge to Hill from the bowling of Wells.
Santner’s first appearance in coloured clothing was short-lived when he was trapped LBW by Sheikh in the 25th over for four, before Elliott and Ronchi stole the show with some superb hitting.
Ronchi was dropped twice, on 49 and 84, as he rode his luck in a risk and reward innings and Elliott was put down by keeper Hill on 94, but they were only flashes in a dominant batting effort.
The BLACKCAPS got the ideal preparation they were looking for ahead of five One-Day Internationals against England which begin at Edgbaston on 1am Wednesday NZT (Tuesday UK).
