Stunning Sandhu slices up New Zealand A

A stunning five-wicket haul to NSW quick Gurinder Sandhu propelled Australia A to a comfortable five-wicket victory over New Zealand A as their three-match 50-over series began in Mackay.

After Australia A won the toss and bowled, it was paceman Tom Rogers who broke through by bowling Sean Solia (8) in the seventh over, before Sandhu struck with devastating effect to claim the next five wickets while conceding just nine runs off 34 deliveries.

The 30-year-old was on a hat-trick after having Dean Foxcroft caught for 14 and captain Tom Bruce edging behind off the last two balls of his first over, the 13th of the innings.

Opener Nick Kelly survived the hat-trick ball but an over later Sandhu had a third victim when Leo Carter was caught by Matt Renshaw for six.

Sandhu trapped Josh Clarkson lbw for 2 - giving him an astonishing 4-1 from four overs as the tourists slumped to 5-54 in the 19th - and when Kelly (52) edged behind Sandhu had 5-9 from 6.2 overs.

He ended with 5-27 from nine as New Zealand A struggled to 169 all out off 46 overs, with left-arm orthodox spinner Matthew Kuhnemann claiming the last two wickets as he pushes for a full international recall.

Australia A strode to their meagre target in just 31.3 overs, with Ashton Turner and Will Sutherland calming a few nerves from 5-105 in the 23rd over with an unbroken 65-run stand.

Turner made 56 from 61 balls while Sutherland scored 34 from 34.

Games two and three will be played in Brisbane on Wednesday and Friday.

Australia A v New Zealand A series

First four-day match: NZ A won by 225 runs

Second four-day match: NZ A won by 68 runs

Australia A four-day squad: Wes Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Jordan Buckingham, Ben Dwarshuis, Caleb Jewell, Campbell Kellaway, Matthew Kelly, Matthew Kuhnemann, Nathan McAndrew, Nathan McSweeney, Joel Paris, Jimmy Peirson, Mitch Perry, Josh Philippe, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, Tim Ward

First one-dayer: Australia A won by five wickets

Second one-dayer: September 13, Allan Border Field (D/N)

Third one-dayer: September 15, Allan Border Field

Australia A one-day squad: Will Sutherland (c), Ollie Davies, Liam Hatcher, Caleb Jewell, Matt Kuhnemann, Ben McDermott, Josh Philippe, Matt Renshaw, Tom Rogers, Gurinder Sandhu, Matt Short, Mark Steketee, Ashton Turner

New Zealand A squad (both formats): Muhammad Abbas, Adi Ashok, Tom Bruce (c), Leo Carter, Josh Clarkson, Henry Cooper, Jacob Duffy, Cam Fletcher, Dean Foxcroft, Mitch Hay, Scott Kuggeleijn, Will O'Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Michael Rae, Brett Randell, Tim Seifert, Sean Solia