AFP, SYDNEY: Aaron Finch and Ryan Carters monstered the New Zealand bowling attack with an unbeaten, triple-hundred opening stand to put the Cricket Australia XI in command of their tour match against New Zealand in Sydney on Thursday.
Finch smashed an unbeaten 214, his maiden first-class double hundred, and Carters cracked 156 not out to steer the CA XI to 376 without loss off 91 overs at the close on the opening day of the three-day fixture.
Pace spearhead Trent Boult was left out of the New Zealand team after playing in both of their previous tour matches, while Tim Southee left the field with an illness after bowling just three overs and didn’t return.
The tourists requested the four-day match be reduced to a three-day fixture and they might be wishing it was all over in one as their attack was plundered.
Finch’s innings wasn’t without luck. He gave a sharp chance at bat-pad on 24 and another at backward square leg as he closed in on his 150. But Carters’ innings was flawless.