Boult stars as Black Caps lose opener

Trent Boult was on fire but the Black Caps lost their tour opener by 30 runs against an Indian Board President’s XI in Mumbai.

New Zealand fast bowler Boult took

5-38 as the hosts reached 295-9 from their

50 overs, with the highlight a 147-run partnership between openers Lokesh Rahul (68) and Prithvi Shaw (66).

A brisk 78 from No 3 Karun Nair propelled the Indian side towards 300, and the Black Caps in reply fell short despite decent knocks from Tom Latham

(59) and captain Kane Williamson (47). New Zealand, who won the toss and opted to bowl first, were eventually bowled out for 265 with 14 balls of their innings left.

Latham, batting at No 5, fell in the

40th over after scoring 59 from 62 balls and the Black Caps collapsed from 201-5 to 265 all out as an increasing run rate piled the pressure on New Zealand’s lower order.

Black Caps spinner Todd Astle had bowled just three balls in the first innings before leaving the field with a groin injury and is in doubt for their oneday series against India which begins on Sunday.

Colin de Grandhomme was the last man out, after scoring 33 from 22 balls, as Indian bowlers Jaydev Unadkat and Shahbaz Nadeem took 3-62 and 3-41 respectively.

New Zealand play their final warmup match against the Indian Board President’s XI today before facing India in three ODIs and three Twenty20s.