December 08, 2007	Saturday	Ziqa'ad 27, 1428

PERTH (Australia), Dec 7: New Zealand’s brief limited overs tour of Australia got off to a disappointing start when they were beaten in the Lilac Hill festival match here on Friday.

Up against a Cricket Australia Chairman’s XI side featuring several retired players and some fringe first-class cricketers, the Black Caps fell seven runs short in a big run chase, despite a century by new skipper Brendon McCullum.

After the home side was dismissed for 285 in 47 overs, the Kiwis made 9-278 from their 50 overs.

The Black Caps needed 15 off the last over to win.

The match offered New Zealand their only chance to tune up for Tuesday’s sold-out Twenty20 international against Australia at the WACA Ground, and the subsequent three-match Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series.

With new skipper Daniel Vettori rested, McCullum took over the captaincy for the first time and led from the front, making 119 from 126 balls at the top of the order.

The Kiwis looked set to win when McCullum and Matthew Sinclair (27) put on 57 for the fourth wicket, but the latter’s dismissal sparked a collapse.

Jacob Oram made just 12 and when he was stumped from the bowling of Hussey, New Zealand’s hopes of victory were fading fast.

Scoreboard

CA CHAIRMAN’S XI:

L. Ronchi c How b Mason 0

L. Davis b Martin 30

L. Pomersbach c Patel b Oram 88

P. Hughes c Vincent b O’Brien 0

D. Hussey c Oram b Gillespie 73

T. Doropolous c Mason b Patel 32

R. Campbell c Mason b Patel 14

S. Gillies c McCullum b Oram 14

A. Heal c Hopkins b Oram 0

T. Kelly b McCullum b Martin 14

M. Olsen not out 5

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-4, NB-2, W-8) 15

TOTAL (all out, 47 overs) 285

FALL OF WKTS: 1-0, 2-76, 3-88, 4-156, 5-220, 6-237, 7-262, 8-263, 9-265.

BOWLING: Mason 7-1-38-1 (1w 1nb), Gillespie 10-0-52-1 (2w, 1nb), Martin 9-0-36-2 (2w), O’Brien 4-0-52-1 (1w), Patel 10-0-61-2 (1w), Oram 7-0-41-3 (1w).

NEW ZEALAND:

L. Vincent c Hussey b Angel 8

B. McCullum c Pomersbach b Heal 119

J. How b Kelly 30

S. Stryis c Hussey b Heal 14

M. Sinclair c Ronchi b Hussey 27

J. Oram st Ronchi b Hussey 12

G. Hopkins c Davis b Angel 14

M. Gillespie not out 30

M. Mason b Olsen 7

J. Patel run out 5

I. O’Brien not out 0

EXTRAS (B-3, NB-7, W-2) 12

TOTAL (for nine wkts, 50 overs) 278

FALL OF WKTS: 1-29, 2-104, 3-135, 4-192, 5-209, 6-222, 7-237, 8-265, 9-273.

BOWLING: Angel 8-2-44-2, Olsen 8-0-74-1 (5nb), Gillies 7-0-28-0 (2nb), Kelly 7-0-31-0, Campbell 5-0-31-0 (2w), Heal 10-0-44-2, Hussey 5-0-23-2.

UMPIRES: Ian Lock, Mick Martell

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: B McCullum (NZL).—AFP