KEY POINTS:
The rain had the final word but not before rookie opener Aaron Redmond made a statement as New Zealand opened their tour of England today.
The one-day match against Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) at Arundel ran foul of the weather, being called off early due to rain.
There was enough time, though, for Otago right-hander Redmond to make a useful start to the three-test tour as he scored 72 of New Zealand's 239 for seven from 47 overs.
Their allocation had been reduced because of the rain, but MCC's chase ended after just nine overs by which stage seamer Mark Gillespie had struck twice as MCC reached 44 for two.
Jamie How, New Zealand's stand-in captain in place of Daniel Vettori - who is on leave with the Indian Premier League - shared in an opening stand of 91 with Redmond.
How smacked 10 fours in his slick 46 from 56 balls before he was caught off Chris Cairns, his former international teammate, who was captaining MCC.
Redmond, who played for Wigan in the Lancashire League last year, fell to a brilliant one-handed catch by Paul Nixon for 72, containing seven boundaries off 117 deliveries.
New Zealand's innings then fell away, not helped by frequent rain interruptions, but Tim Southee clattered two huge sixes to lift their total at the end.
Gillespie nipped out the MCC openers in quick succession before the final rain break terminated the match.
"I was a little bit nervous at the start because it's the first time I've had the opportunity to play for a New Zealand side, but it was great to find my feet," Redmond said.
"It's a great opportunity and the best thing I can do is keep performing and training hard."
New Zealand's next match is a one-dayer against Kent starting at Canterbury tonight (NZT).
The first test against England starts at Lord's on May 15.
Scorecard
New Zealand
J How c Ackerman b Cairns 46
A Redmond c Nixon b Ervine 72
J Marshall c Nicol b Stephenson 11
P Fulton c Elworthy b Nicol 28
D Flynn c Montgomerie b Stephenson 1
G Elliott lbw b Elworthy 14
G Hopkins c Benham b Nicol 9
T Southee not out 20
J Patel not out 9
Extras (5lb, 21w, 3nb) 29
Total (for 7 wkts, 47 overs) 239
Fall: 91, 120, 174, 176, 183, 199, 208.
Bowling: S Elworthy 9-1-55-1, S Ervine 10-2-50-1 (3nb, 4w), C Cairns 4-0-18-1 (2w), J Stephenson 10-1-42-2 (1w), M Patel 9-0-37-0 (1w), R Nicol 5-0-32-2.
MCC
D Bicknell c Fulton b Gillespie 12
R Montgomerie lbw b Gillespie 20
H Ackerman not out 9
S Ervine not out 0
Extras (3w) 3
Total (for 2 wkts, 9 overs) 44
Fall: 13, 44.
Bowling: M Gillespie 5-0-26-2 (1w), T Southee 4-1-18-0 (2w).
No result.
- NZPA
