Two young cricket fans had the surprise of their lives when they returned to their Auckland home after a night away to find five Black Caps were ready to play with them.

Kyle Mills came through what amounted to a New Zealand fitness confirmation trial in good shape as Auckland won a last-ball Ford Trophy thriller against Northern Districts in the sunshine at Eden Park yesterday.

You see the words "drink responsibly" everywhere. Fair enough too. It's great advice. I love drinking responsibly.

Two young cricket fans were thrilled to find their front yard had been turned into a cricket pitch and five Black Caps were ready to play with them.

Martin Guptill fended off speculation about his form with a reassuring innings of 66 off 78 balls in yesterday's abandoned third one-day international against Sri Lanka.

It was a good hit-out yesterday for the Black Caps with plenty achieved even with the Auckland weather trying to play spoiler.

New Zealand sport fans are becoming increasingly excited about the Cricket World Cup.

Hail the invisible puppeteer.

Sri Lanka easily won the second ODI against New Zealand at Seddon Park to square the seven-game series tonight.

"Match sold out" signs are expected to be up for all bar one of New Zealand's six World Cup pool games by the end of next week.

Half centuries by Brendon McCullum and Corey Anderson carried New Zealand to a three-wicket win in the opening ODI against Sri Lanka at Hagley Oval today.

Time to change the kit, and the mindset for New Zealand - bring out the colours, the World Cup is almost upon us.

A world record-setting day for New Zealand has given them the springboard to press for victory on the final day of the second test against Sri Lanka.

New Zealand were fighting hard to stay in the second test at the end of day three at the Basin Reserve today.

There's no particular science to winning tosses. You, or your rival skipper, depending on where the test is being played, either calls correctly or not. A 50-50 chance every time.

Sri Lanka were undoing their good work earlier in the day after a poor batting display on the opening day of the second test against New Zealand at the Basin Reserve.

Sri Lanka turned the second test on its head in less than a day to be in charge after the second day of the Basin Reserve test against New Zealand today.

New Zealand replace left armer for the second test against Sri Lanka with Doug Bracewell, who returns for his first test since late 2013.

The days of New Zealand teams heading away on limited preparation to tackle subcontinent teams in their back yards could soon be a thing of the past.

A glance at New Zealand's year - played nine tests, won five, a record, drew two and lost two - suggests the bowlers have been on their work.