New Zealand v England - Tour Match

New Zealand Cricket XI v England XI
McLean Park, Napier
4 Day Game
Umpires: FR Goodall & SJ Woodward

NZC XI: CS Dempster, *GT Dowling, AH Jones, BF Hastings, MJ Greatbatch, V Pollard, +WK Lees, DJ Nash, AR MacGibbon, DR Hadlee, FJ Cameron.
ENG XI: JB Hobbs, *L Hutton, WR Hammond, KF Barrington, MC Cowdrey, AW Greig, +TG Evans, H Larwood, JC Laker, JA Snow, RGD Willis.

A batsman friendly McLean Park pitch meant that the bowlers were going to have to work hard for any sort of return, but England's top six all spent valuable time at the crease as the tourists drew this four day warm-up for the Tests.

England's bowling was efficient, nothing more, as the NZC XI were bowled out for 297 after Graham Dowling had won the toss and batted, with John Snow the pick of the tourists' attack. Dempster and Dowling were allowed to compile a century opening stand with little trouble, and this foundation was built upon by Brian Hastings, who ground his way to 95 before edging the disappointing Willis through to Evans. The tail fell away though, and over the course of the second and third days England's batsmen made hay in the sun against a very ordinary bowling attack.

Hutton, Hammond and Barrington all made centuries as England raced to a total of over 500, and Cowdrey could have joined them in three figures had he not thrown away his wicket in such of quick declaration runs. Hammond was the most fluent of England's centurions, but Barrington, fit again after a knee injury kept him out of the tour to Pakistan, grew in confidence as his innings progressed and reached his hundred with a towering six off the luckless MacGibbon.

Hutton declared upon the fall of Cowdrey's wicket, leaving his bowlers a lead of 255 and over a day's play in which to bowl out the hosts for a second time, but as is so often the case the New Zealanders batted with great resistance. They were 57-3 at lunch on the final day, but fifties from Greatbatch and Pollard supported a fine hundred from Stewie Dempster, who must now be in with a chance of forcing his way into the Kiwi Test squad, and the tourists' pursuit of victory ended in frustration. England's bowlers will have to pull their socks up before the first Test, but they still remain favourites to take both the series and the number one ranking in the world.

Scores
NZC XI 1st Inns 297 (Hastings 95, Dempster 54, Dowling 48)
ENG XI 1st Inns 552-5 dec. (Barrington 140, Hutton 131, Hammond 128, Cowdrey 95)
NZC XI 2nd Inns 286-6 (Dempster 111, Greatbatch 59, Pollard 52)

MATCH DRAWN