New Zealand A thrash Northern Territory by 167 runs

New Zealand A 344 (Fulton 80, Stewart 70, Ryder 65) beat Northern Territory XI 177 (Lavers 52, Taylor 5-31) by 167 runs
Scorecard

A strong batting performance by the New Zealand A top order set up the side's 167-run victory over Northern Territory Chief Minister's XI in the Top End Series at Darwin. Three of the top four batsmen scored half-centuries as New Zealand A posted a mammoth 344. In reply Northern Territory were bowled out for 177 with Ross Taylor taking 5 for 31.

The opening partnership between Shanan Stewart and Jesse Ryder was worth 140 in just more than 17 overs and when Peter Fulton, the New Zealand A captain, came in after 21 overs the score had already gone past 150. He and Taylor kept the middle overs alive and interesting with a stand of 68. With four sixes in his 80, Fulton pushed the total beyond 300 by the 44th over. But once he got out, the last four wickets managed to add only 38 to take the score to 344.

Northern Territory were never in the chase, though Dwaine Richards, the opening batsman, held on for 68 balls and added 59 for the third wicket with Simon Lavers, the only Northern Territory player to get a half-century. But Lavers's exit was the start of a middle-order collapse - four wickets, including Lavers's, fell for 20 runs - all going to Ross Taylor, a part-time offspinner, who had taken a single wicket from 37 List A matches.

New Zealand A next play Australia A on July 9.