New Zealand has got an early win in the lead-up to V8 Supercars grand finale at the Sydney Telstra 500 this weekend.
In a friendly game of beach cricket at Coogee, New Zealand defeated Australia, taking the inaugural Telstra 500 Beach Cricket trophy.
The teams consisted of a mix of V8 Supercars drivers, cricketers, sporting stars and journalists.
Australia was represented by captain Mark Waugh (former Australian cricketer), Mark Winterbottom (V8s), Will Davison (V8s), Lee Holdsworth (V8s), Michael Caruso (V8s), Bradley Clyde (former NRL player), Matt White (Seven Network) and Christian Nicolussi (journalist, Daily Telegraph).
The victorious New Zealand team consisted of Chris Cairns (former NZ cricketer), Daniel Gaunt (Carrera Cup), Craig Baird (Carrera Cup), Fabian Coulthard (V8s), Nick Cassidy (Fujitsu V8s), Greg Murphy (V8s), Ed Jackson (journalist, AAP) and Nigel Vagana (former NRL player).
The Kiwis took the victory by three runs, with Cairns playing a solid leading role. AAP journalist Jackson was a stand-out all-rounder, and Gaunt proved a find in the field.
For the Australians, the Garry Rogers Motorsport pair of Lee Holdsworth and Michael Caruso gave the locals a chance, but in the dying overs of the match, Davison couldn't get one off the square against Cairns, who produced a fiery spell.
Pre-Sydney Telstra 500 press engagements continue tomorrow with Vodafone's Giant Duck Race.
See below for an image gallery from Coogee Beach, Sydney.
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