NZ run machine keeps records flowing

Ross Taylor equalled the New Zealand record of six consecutive one-day international halfcenturies and then became the first Kiwi to score 20 ODI hundreds en route to a classical 137 against Sri Lanka, at Saxton Oval in Nelson yesterday.

‘‘It was nice to get the 20th hundred, I would have taken that at the start of my career,’’ Taylor said. ‘‘I’m getting old, so hopefully I’ve got a few more in me.’’

It simply continued a fine run of form for the Central Districts batsman in the 50-over format, kick-started by the incredible unbeaten 181 against England in Dunedin last summer and continued in Abu Dhabi with scores of 80 and 86 not out against Pakistan, and then 54 and 90 against Sri Lanka in the first two matches of this series. He equals skipper Kane Williamson, who scored six straight in 2015, and Andrew Jones as the New Zealand record holders, also tying Mohammad Yousuf (Pakistan), Gordon Greenidge (West Indies) and Australian Mark Waugh for second on the world list. He needs three more against India later this month to equal Pakistani Javed Miandad’s world mark.