Afghanistan cricketers are going to have to quickly adjust to the realities of life in the fast lane of New Zealand cricket after a 177 run loss to the Auckland Aces at Bay Oval.

In the side's first of four warm up matches at the Mount Maunganui venue in the next fortnight, against the Aces and Northern Districts, a superior batting effort had the visitors on the ropes from the outset.

The Afghanistan national cricket team.

Afghanistan, one of four qualifiers for the ICC World Cricket Cup 2015, are currently in the Mount as part of the ICC High Performance Programme to prepare for crickets pinnacle 50-over tournament.

Winning the toss, the Aces elected to bat reaching 36 before Blackcap Martin Guptil was caught for 15 trying to smash the ball to the boundary.

From there fellow opener Anaru Kitchen took control of the Aces innings, blasting 148 off 136 balls. His 190 minutes at the crease produced 14 fours and 5 sixes as he smashed the ball to all confines of the Bay Oval.

Kitchen combined with Jeet Raval (39) to put on a 91 run partnership for the second wicket. Auckland captain Rob Nicol was also in good touch with 42 runs before he was adjudged LBW to the bowling of Dawlat Zadran.

The Aces reached 314/9 in their allotted fifty overs. Shapoor Zadran was the best of the Afghanistan bowling attack taking four wickets for 77 runs, with Dawlat Zadran taking two.

Afghanistan were taught an early lesson, losing their first wicket without a run being scored.

Number four batsman Asghar Stanikzai steadied the ship at one end, posting 32 before being given out LBW from the bowling of Dean Bartlett. The dismissal of Stanikzai saw the overseas visitors in trouble at 93/7.

Afghanistan captain Afsai Khan, batting in the middle order, dug deep to top score with 42, as his charges were dismissed for 137.

Tarun Nethula grabbed four wickets at a cost of 50 runs while Donovan Grobbelaar and Kyle Mills took two wickets apiece.

While Afghanistan dusted the cobwebs off in the Mount Maunganui breeze, they are now preparing to face the Auckland side tomorrow at 11am before tackling Northern Districts next week in two matches on October 7 and 9.

Scorecard:

Auckland Aces 314/9: (AK Kitchen 148, RJ Nicol 42, JA Raval 39; Shapoor Zadran 4/77, Dawlat Zadran 2/67).

Afghanistan 137: (Afsai Khan 42, Asghar Stanikzai 32; TS Nethula 4/50, DJ Grobbelaar 2/10, KD Mills 2/14).