Delhi's Sonnett Cricket Club opened their New Zealand tour with a 54-run win in the first fixture against Sparks' Tour XI at Woolston Park, Christchurch earlier this week.

The opening pair of Onkar Singh (63) and Jitender Singh (116) posted 171 runs for the first wicket. Jitender, a Punjab state player, spent 101 minutes at the crease facing 84 balls in an innings of forceful drives and delicate placement of the ball all around the field.

Sonnett's innings of the 35-over fixture closed at 271/3.

Sparks' Tours XI run chase received good support from two Lancaster Park/Woolston players heading to England for the off-season, Shayne McConnell (42) and Peter Robinson (71).

Sparks' Tours XI were dismissed for 217 in 30.2 overs giving the visitors a 54-run win.

At the end of play, Sonnett's vice president Sanjay Bhardwaj said "His boys really enjoyed their first match in New Zealand."

The Sonnett Cricket Club is in Christchurch for two weeks playing four fixtures against local club teams in that time. This tour follows the highly successful visit in January by the Desert Youth Cricket Club who played five games in Christchurch winning three and losing two, claiming a series win.

© CricInfo