New Zealanders complete 34-run win

The New Zealanders beat a Victorian invitation team by 34 runs in a limited overs match at the Albert Reserve in Melbourne. The New Zealanders made 7 for 277 from 40 overs and then bowled out the Victorian Invitation XI for 243 in 38.3 overs. Ian Hewett was the star for Victoria with 82 off 52 balls. For New Zealand Kyle Mills and Ian Butler took three wickets each.

The Kiwis organised the game as a warm-up for the three-match Chappell-Hadlee one-day trophy against Australia, which starts this Sunday at Telstra Dome.

John Bracewell, New Zealand's coach, said that the one-day game would help his side adjust after they the two Tests against Australia last month. He told the Melbourne's The Age newspaper. "The side in the past from touring hasn't been great at transferring from one game to the next," he said. "But we did that very well in England last year ... we transferred quite quickly, but that `quickly' was also three warm-up games." In June and July this year New Zealand had adapted well enough to win the triangular tournament with England and West Indies after they had lost their Test series against England 3-0.