The BLACKCAPS moved to 87 for one at lunch of the first day of the opening Test of The National Bank Series against England at Hamilton’s Seddon Park.
After captain Daniel Vettori won the toss and elected to bat first, Jamie How is unbeaten on 39 and Stephen Fleming on 28.
Matthew Bell’s was the first wicket to fall in the match, and the only one of the opening session.
At the toss, Vettori revealed spinner Jeetan Patel and batsman Ross Taylor were selected for their first Test match in New Zealand.
England wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose was handed a Test debut, while Northern Knights left-hander Andrew Strauss turned out on his adopted home ground.
Michael Vaughan also returned to captain the tourists, while Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard and Monty Panesar return to the English attack.
How and Bell put on 44 from 13 overs before a drinks break. But after play resumed, the Wellington Firebirds opener made 19 before getting a thick edge to a Stephen Harmison delivery, but the ball travelled safely to Alastair Cook in gully.
Fleming and How then steered the hosts through the morning steadily and without further loss.
However, England did suffer a setback after Ian Bell left the field with an injured right arm. Bell sustained the injury fielding at short leg to his namesake from the bowling of Ryan Sidebottom.
He has been taken to hospital for x-rays to determine if he can take any part in the match.
BLACKCAPS: Daniel Vettori (captain), Matthew Bell, Jamie How, Stephen Fleming, Ross Taylor, Mathew Sinclair, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jeetan Patel, Chris Martin.
England: Michael Vaughan (captain), Alastair Cook, Andrew Strauss, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Tim Ambrose, Ryan Sidebottom, Matthew Hoggard, Steve Harmison, Monty Panesar.
