NZ A reach the final four in India

New Zealand A qualified for the semi-finals of the Coromandel King Moin-ud-Dowlah Gold Cup in Hyderabad yesterday.

The tourists claimed a 50-run win over South India Corporation Agencies (SICAL) by 50 runs in a rain-adjusted match.

NZ A scored 258 runs in 49 overs. The feature of the innings was a 99-run third wicket stand between Chris Nevin and Glen Sulzberger, two players who will join the CLEAR Black Caps in Pakistan at the weekend.

Nevin scored 73 from 74 balls, hitting 14 fours in his innings while Sulzberger scored 54.

Adding support were Hamish Marshall who scored 47 from 54 balls and Jacob Oram who hit 34 from 41 balls.

NZ A were looking at a huge score when reaching 161/3 in 30 overs, however, it lost wickets during the latter part of the innings.

SICAL went out to a rain-reduced target of 234 in 40 overs but at 132/7 from 27 overs, the players were forced from the field by drizzle. When play resumed the target had been reduced to 213 in 34 overs, or an immediate target of 81 runs in seven overs.

Indian international Robin Singh hit out and scored 55 not out from 65 balls.

But an outstanding start by Chris Drum, who took four for 32 during the innings, had SICAL reeling at 19/3 and its task became all but impossible with the rain break.