Australia A have been crushed by three wickets by their New Zealand counterparts after the hosts chased down 365 in a dominant fourth-innings show.
With the Dukes ball swinging in Lincoln, New Zealand A resumed at 0-31 and pressed on to victory as Australia’s bowlers didn’t take sufficient alternatives on the ultimate day.
Queenslander Xavier Bartlett was the decide of the quicks with 3-78, whereas Mitchell Swepson took 3-121 after solely claiming one scalp within the first innings.
But it was not sufficient to derail New Zealand A, with Dean Foxcroft’s 97 main the best way.
“Coming over here we wanted to win two games of cricket, and 365, I would back my bowlers to do the job,” Australia A captain Nathan McSweeney mentioned.
“They bowled really well and created opportunities, but unfortunately a lot of them went in the gap today and New Zealand played really well and were too good for us.”
However, the match can be remembered for Matt Renshaw’s batting.
One of the few real Ashes contenders within the workforce given the conflict with the IPL and county cricket, Renshaw made scores of 112 and 78.
It comes after he made scores of zero and two within the first Test in India, earlier than being dropped for the second Test.
He was introduced again in as a concussion substitute for David Warner halfway via that match, earlier than being overlooked once more for the third and fourth Tests.
The Queenslander is now possible in a battle with Warner to companion Usman Khawaja on the high of Australia’s order for the World Test Championship closing and Ashes in June and July.
“He was unbelievable,” McSweeney mentioned of Renshaw.
“(He) scored at a very good clip as well, very classy, both innings. He looked a class above in his two innings he played.”
The two groups meet for a second four-day match in Lincoln from Saturday.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
