NZ finally click into gear against Uganda

New Zealand 259-6 (50 overs, T .Astle 67, K. Noema-Barnett 67); Uganda 137 (48.4 overs, Bartlett 5-30. New Zealand won by 122 runs.

New Zealand finally clicked into gear and Uganda were the side to suffer on Tuesday.

New Zealand had failed to win either of their two warm-up matches and lost their tournament opener against Bangladesh but they beat the Associate side by 122 runs.

They scored an impressive 259-6 after being put into bat and then demolished Uganda's bating for just 137 with pace bowler Dean Bartlett taking 5-30 to earn the man of the match award.

It was not all plain sailing for New Zealand as, despite 67 from opener Todd Astle, they slipped to 152-5 at one point but aggressive contributions from Kieran Noema-Barnett (67) and Ronald Karaitiana (43 not out) took them to their very useful final total.

Noema-Barnett and Karaitiana added 96 in just 12 overs with Noema-Barnett's innings spanning just 47 balls and including three fours and four sixes. Karaitiana's unbeaten effort saw him face just 40 deliveries and hit three fours.

Astle held the early part of the innings together, batting for 147 minutes during which time he faced 113 balls and hit four fours before becoming one of Patrick Ochan's three wickets.

It was the first time in four matches on their tour that New Zealand had reached 200 in an innings.

When Uganda batted they found Bartlett too hot to handle and his opening burst, reducing them to 22-3, decided the match once and for all.

And he admitted afterwards he had been pleasantly surprised by the conditions he has so far encountered in Sri Lanka.

"Back home a few people told us it was a spinner's paradise but a couple of the New Zealand A players said some of the pitches had some grass on them," he said.

"Today I cut down my pace and concentrated on line and length, getting the ball in the right areas and it worked."

Uganda coach Sam Walusimbi was encouraged by his side's improvement after they were hammered on Monday by Pakistan, losing that match by eight wickets.

"We gave them a run for their money," he said of the game against New Zealand.

"We bowled pretty well then they came out on top of us and later on I thought the target was gettable.

"But we did not start well, we did not have a lot of luck and our middle order strength did not materialize.

"It is all a matter of exposure for us and it takes that to get confidence," he added.

Uganda's top-scorer was captain Hamza Almuzahim with 27 while Roland Semanda (21), Ochan (20) and Davis Arinaitwe (23) all got in without going on to make a substantial score.

The two sides are part of a group that also includes Bangladesh and the holders Pakistan and only two of the sides can progress to the Super League quarter-finals, which are played on Saturday.

Bartlett said New Zealand knew another win against Pakistan was vital to ensure Super League qualification.

"We definitely have to win that match and that creates pressure but Pakistan will start as favourites and we have nothing to lose," he said.

"We just need to carry on. We have not played to our full potential but there is a lot left in the tank."