Taylor, Latham slam hundreds in New Zealand's win

Tom Latham and Ross Taylor both shone with the bat, hitting fine hundreds, as New Zealand shrugged off a defeat in the first warm-up game against Board President's XI to beat them by 33 runs in the second game.

Batting first, New Zealand amassed 343 for 9 in their fifty overs on the back of the twin hundreds. In reply, BP XI hit 310, but never looked close to chasing down New Zealand's total.

If Taylor and Latham's knocks would have given New Zealand much to cheer about ahead of the three-match ODI series against India, their top order performance would have left them with a few headaches. Just like in the first game, the opening pair of Martin Guptill and Colin Munro got New Zealand off to a solid start before failing to capitalise. Kane Williamson too failed with the bat, out bowled for 1, to leave the team in a spot of bother.

But with many question marks hovering over how New Zealand's middle-order would shape up, Taylor and Latham helped ease the nerves with some fine batting. Taylor was the aggressor, while Latham was content playing second fiddle. The pair added 166 runs at a good pace to give New Zealand a solid platform.

Henry Nicholls and Mitchell Santner then used the long handle to good effect to push NZ's score close to 350.

BP XI, in response, got their chase off to a decent start. However, Prithvi Shaw and Rishabh Pant's departures in quick succession put them behind the eight ball. Karun Nair hit a run-a-ball fifty before falling for 54, while Gurukeerat Singh Mann slammed 65 off 46 to give the side an outside chance.

However, with the required rate always climbing, it wasn't long before the bowlers were back on top. Jaydev Unadkat (44 off 24) and Dhawal Kulkarni (24) combined to give New Zealand a scare towards the end, but the task proved to be too tall. Santner picked up three wickets while Tim Southee and Munro got two wickets apiece.

The win and the morale boost apart, the game would have helped New Zealand figure out their middle order conundrum. Tom Latham's 63-ball 59 in the first game along with his hundred in the second game should help him seal a spot in the middle order. While the likes of Mitchell Santner and Colin de Grandhomme proved they can be relied upon to provide a strong finish.

New Zealand will face India for the first ODI in Mumbai on Sunday (October 22).