T20 warm up at Katunayake: Munro and Taylor guide NZ to win

New Zealand Colin Munro plays a shot during the T20 Tour match between Sri Lanka Board President's XI and New Zealand at Marians Cricket Club Ground in Katunayake yesterday - Pic by Chamila Karunarathna

Ross Taylor and Colin Munro guided New Zealand to a 33-run win in their warm up T 20 encounter which concluded at Katunayake yesterday.

Colin Munro (48),who was struggling in form and lost out his place in the last cricket World Cup, made a breezy comeback, while experienced Ross Taylor was top of things with an unbeaten 53. Martin Guptill made a quick 22 runs, and Wanidu Hasaranga’s leg spin was the only bright spot for the home team when he took two quick wickets to put the visitors on the back foot briefly.

Dhanushka Gunathilake, Bhanuka Rajapakse, Shehan Jayasuriya and Dasun Shanka all scored 20s but this was not sufficient to go past the New Zealand total. Sodhi and Kuggelegin were among the wickets for the Kiwis.

New Zealand team will be in the central hills to play the Sri Lanka national team in three T20 encounters at the Pallekelle International Cricket Stadium on 1, 3 and 6September.

•  New Zealand 168 for 6 in 20 overs

Ross Taylor 53 not out, Colin Munro 48, Martin Guptill 22

Wanidu Hasaranga 2  

for 35

• Sri Lanka Board President XI 135 for 9 in 20 overs

Dhanushka Gunathilake20, Bhanuka Rajapakse 22, Shehan Jayasuriya 26, Dashun 

Shanaka 25

Sodhi 3 for 43, Kuggelegin 4  

for 14 (SJ)