The Gold Coast Bulletin

Bartlett’s plans off to good start

- - CONNOR O’BRIEN

XAVIER Bartlett has enjoyed a solid first hit-out across the ditch as Australia’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup preparatio­ns reach top gear.

The Gold Coast Dolphins paceman produced tidy figures of 1-26 off eight overs as Australia defeated Sri Lanka by 53 runs in a warm-up clash at Christchur­ch, New Zealand, yesterday.

Bartlett, who turned 19 last month, got the ball rolling in his side’s defence of their 7-251 total, dismissing opposition opener Dhananjaya Lakshan for 12, caught behind.

Fellow Dolphins star Max Bryant had a less convincing outing, falling in the fourth over of Australia’s innings for just seven runs.

Jonathan Merlo (78) and Will Sutherland (3-25) – the son of Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland – were among the team’s best performers.

Australia’s second and final warm-up will be played tomorrow against South Africa, who were yesterday handed a 189-run mauling by India.

They will then open their tournament-proper schedule against India on Sunday.

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