KEY POINTS:
England lurched from the front foot to the back at University Oval yesterday, compromising any advances made against New Zealand's test batsmen with an inadequate performance against an Invitation cricket XI.
England squandered a chance for batting practice ahead of the opening test in Hamilton next Wednesday, falling for just 131 inside 41 overs.
Although the wicket was livelier than the pitch provided for the first warm-up game on Monday it was nowhere as treacherous as England's batting card suggested.
By stumps the Invitation XI had forged a 46-run first innings lead, at 177 for four.
Openers Matthew Bell and Jamie How were tested early, but compiled a 98-run opening stand reasonably comfortably, with How scoring 65.
But England still held the whip hand over Peter Fulton, who made just 23.
Ross Taylor hardly made a compelling case for a test recall when he was caught behind the wicket for eight late in the day.
Mathew Sinclair was unbeaten on 14 at the close, alongside South African-born Wellingtonian Grant Elliott (13).
Any momentum England forged when they routed a composite Otago side featuring Stephen Fleming, Bell, Fulton and Sinclair on Tuesday was stalled before lunch. Iain O'Brien started England's slide in the second over taking captain Michael Vaughan who provided Central Districts wicketkeeper Bevan Griggs with the first of a quartet of catches.
O'Brien impressed with four for 34 from 12 overs, while his rival for the third seamer's berth Mark Gillespie took three for 62.
- NZPA
