CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) — Brendon McCullum and Kane Williamson made half centuries as New Zealand reached 331-8 after batting first against South Africa in a Cricket World Cup warmup match Wednesday.
McCullum made 59 from 45 balls at Hagley Oval with seven fours and a six, while Williamson had 66 from 53 balls with nine boundaries to lead New Zealand to a formidable total on the ground where it will play its opening World Cup match against Sri Lanka in two days.
Dale Steyn was missing from the South Africa attack, leaving Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel to share the new ball.
Sri Lanka made 279-8, batting after winning the toss in its warmup against Zimbabwe. After being 85-3, half centuries by Dimuth Karunaratne and Jeevan Mendis settled the Sri Lanka innings.
New Zealand gave its World Cup opponents some pause for thought by scoring more than 330 against the Proteas, although the pitch at Hagley Oval appears to favor batsmen.
McCullum put on 57 with Martin Guptill (26) in an opening partnership that gave New Zealand a sound start, then rushed to his half century from 40 balls. He added a further 70 for the second wicket with Williamson before he was bowled by Aaron Phangiso in the 19th over.
Williamson shared a 53-run stand with Ross Taylor (41) for the third wicket, falling in the 28th over, and Taylor continued to build the New Zealand total with Grant Elliott (24).
Late contributions of 27 by Daniel Vettori and 29 not out by Nathan McCullum carried New Zealand to 331 at 6.62 runs per over.
Captain A.B. de Villiers was passed fit to rejoin the South African lineup for its last warmup match ahead of its World Cup opener against Zimbabwe in Hamilton with stiffness in one hip.
Team spokesman Lerato Malekutu said de Villiers’ omission was “merely a precautionary measure to ensure he doesn’t suffer any further discomfort.”
Wayne Parnell took 2-52 and Philander 2-59 as the best of the South Africa bowlers.
Karunaratne made 58 and Mendis 51 from 51 balls in Sri Lanka’s innings of 279-8 at Bert Sutcliffe Oval.
Zimbabwe, which reduced New Zealand to 157-7 in a match abandoned because of rain on Monday, made another strong beginning with the ball. Kumar Sangakkara fell for 8 and Mahela Jaywardene for 30 as Sri Lanka’s sound batting by the middle order restored the innings after an early collapse.
Left-arm spinner Sean Williams stood out, taking 3-35 from 10 overs for Zimbabwe, which spread its 50 overs among nine bowlers.
NZ makes 301-7 in WCup warmup against South Africa,
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