Todd Astle's 11-for seals sweep for NZ A

Legspinner Todd Astle took 7 for 78 on the third day to dismiss Sri Lanka A for 234 in their second innings, leaving New Zealand A with only 19 to chase, which they did to secure victory with a day to spare in Lincoln. Astle's performance gave him match figures of 11 for 133, his second ten-wicket haul in first-class cricket.

The stage for Astle had been laid by a strong batting performance from New Zealand A in their first innings. Not only did they score big, they also scored quick. Dean Brownlie made 113 off 151 balls, and Henry Nicholls 137 off 152, to go with half-centuries from Jeet Raval, Will Young and Derek de Boorder. Sri Lanka A legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay ran through the lower order to finish with 5 for 128, but not before the hosts had amassed 519 at 4.37 per over to take a first-innings lead of 216.

The Sri Lankans were steadily eating into that deficit in their second innings, with Minod Bhanuka and Kithuruwan Vithanage adding 110 for the second wicket. From 134 for 1, however, the visitors collapsed, with Astle and fellow legspinner Ish Sodhi running through the middle and lower order. Sri Lanka A were dismissed for 234 in 59.1 overs, and New Zealand A chased the target of 19 with nine wickets in hand.

Astle had also taken four wickets in Sri Lanka A's first innings, spinning through the middle order to help dismiss the visitors for 303, when they looked like getting more at one stage. His performance ensured that New Zealand A won all the matches in the series.