Kiwis torment Lions

Wright ton spares the hosts' blushes

Last updated: 8th May 2008

Luke Wright Lions v NZ 2008

Wright: impressive innings

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Tour Match
The Rose Bowl - Day One
England Lions 280 (L J Wright 120) v New Zealand

New Zealand bounced back strongly after losing the toss and enduring a wicketless first session to dismiss England Lions for 280.

England hopefuls Rob Key, Owais Shah and Ravi Bopara did little to press their claims for a Test place next week in front of coach Peter Moores and National Selector Geoff Miller.

Kent batsman Key, who was leading the Lions, showed great application during a 49-run stand with Hampshire's Michael Carberry which appeared to have laid the foundation for a major England total during a painstaking opening session.

But just four balls after lunch Key's 123-minute knock was ended when he was given lbw for 23 to Chris Martin, attempting to force through mid-wicket.

Middlesex batsman Shah fell in Martin's next over when he pushed forward defensively and edged behind for three.

Bopara went just five overs later when he attempted to leave a ball outside off stump from young seamer Tim Southee but instead got an inside edge onto his stumps for seven.

The manner of their dismissals set the tone for the Lions innings with Matt Prior, another player with a point to prove after being discarded as England's wicketkeeper during the winter, driving Martin tamely to gully for 10 to earn him his third victim.

Stand

Sussex all-rounder Luke Wright and Yorkshire's Adil Rashid defied New Zealand for 25 overs during their 81-run stand.

But all-rounder Jacob Oram took three wickets in six overs, tempting Rashid into driving straight to short extra cover, winning an lbw shout against Graeme Swann and then having Chris Tremlett caught behind in quick succession.

Wright, who was dropped on 28 at short mid-wicket off Jeetan Patel shortly after tea, accelerated his strokeplay after that and was last man out, having reached his century with a slog sweep for six over mid-wicket off Southee having dominated an under-par batting display.