New Zealand spinners enjoy productive work-out

New Zealand's build up for the test series starting on Friday continues to go well with the bowlers, especially the spinners, producing a workmanlike performance on Monday against a Sri Lanka A side full of players anxious to catch the eye of the watching selectors.

Daniel Vettori, the Black Caps key left-arm spinner in the two-test series, and Paul Wiseman, the 32-year-old off-spinner, shared five wickets as Sri Lanka A were bowled out for 284 on a flat Nondescripts Cricket Club pitch.

The Kiwi openers, Mark Richardson and Matt Horne, survived the seven overs till the close, although Nandika Ranjith, a left-arm swing bowler with a burgeoning reputation, ensured a competitive end to the day with three probing overs with the new ball.

Test aspirants Michael Vandort, who opened the innings, Naveed Nawaz and Russel Arnold all missed opportunities to catch the of the watching selectors, who are mulling over the final make-up of the test side.

Tillakaratne Dilshan, the right-handed number three who has an outside chance of being selected, provided the only substantial contribution amongst the top order, a patient 39 from 87 balls, but even he would have been disappointed with his dismissal as he clipped a catch to mid on.

In the end, Sri Lanka A, having slipped to 179 for seven, were rescued by legspinning allrounder Upul Chandana - another name swirling around the selectorial hat - and Sahan Wijeratne, a promising 18-year-old batsman, the pair adding 80 runs for the eighth wicket.

Chandana breezed to the only half-century of the day, hitting fours in his 62-ball 55, whilst the right-handed Wijeratne scored an unbeaten 38 from 85 balls with three boundaries.

Vettori finished with three wickets for 72 runs from his 19 overs whilst Wiseman grabbed two for 63 from 16.3 overs. Shane Bond snatched two wickets in the first half of the day.