Australia A win at last

Australia A finally won a match by beating New Zealand A in the second of the Twenty20 matches in Darwin.

Australia A won the toss and batted first, with Brad Haddin playing a captain’s knock, hitting 52 from 34 balls with two fours and a six. Brad Hodge also chimed in with 40 runs to get Australia A to 9 for 160. Joseph Yovich took 36/4 from four overs.

New Zealand A in reply lost wickets at a steady rate and were all out on the last ball for 144. New Zealand A lost their opening batsman early, but the middle order of Mark Orchard who hit 53 with four fours and two sixes and Rob Nichol who hit 39 with three fours and one six, steadied the innings.

The bowling honours for Australia A were shared evenly, with Brett Dorey 25/3, Shane Watson 30/3 and Dan Cullen 23/3.

The Top End series resumes on Tuesday in Cairns, where Australia A play Pakistan A in a four-day match.

Australia A 160-9
Brad Haddin 52, Brad Hodge 40
Joseph Yovich 4-36

Australia A win by 16 runs

New Zealand A ‘White’ 144
Mark Orchard 53, Rob Nichol 39
Brett Dorey 3-25, Shane Watson 3-30 and Dan Cullen 3-23.