KEY POINTS:
The New Zealand Invitation 11 have a stranglehold over England at stumps on day one of their three-day tour match against England in Dunedin.
The New Zealand Invitation 11 finished the day at 177-4, a lead of 36 runs.
England were earlier dismissed for 131 early in
the second session.
Resuming at 96 for six after lunch, England lost their last four wickets for 35, the innings lasting just 40.1 overs after they were asked to bat by Invitation 11 skipper Jamie How.
Kevin Pietersen top scored with 50, but no other batsman passed 20. Alastair Cook (19) and pace bowler Chris Tremlett (17 not out) were the other main contributors.
Iain O'Brien enhanced his claims to be retained for the first test in Hamilton starting next Wednesday with a haul of four for 34 from 12 overs.
Mark Gillespie, challenging for O'Brien's spot as the third seamer, took three for 62 off 14.1 overs.
In their final warm-up match before the first test in Hamilton, England's batting line-up exposed the same frailties apparent when four contenders for the New Zealand top order made a negligible impact on Tuesday when guesting for an Otago Selection.
The core of the English batting was able to combine for more than the meagre seven Matthew Bell, Stephen Fleming, Peter Fulton and Mathew Sinclair managed in a poor first innings but today's capitulation would still have given New Zealand's selectors heart.
Andrew Strauss may pay the highest price for his five-run return today, an 11-ball innings that indicated he is still struggling to emerge from a form slump which saw him dropped for the first time in his 43-test career last November.
The English selectors seem determined to give the Johannesburg-born opener every opportunity to press for a recall but a failure following on from his four against the composite team on the same ground on Monday indicates time is running out for him.
Strauss auditioned for the No 3 spot today as England retained the combination which served them in Sri Lanka, young Essex left hander Alastair Cook and captain Michael Vaughan.
Aiming to resurrect his test career on his adopted home ground in Hamilton, Strauss undermined his chances when a mistimed pull shot found Jamie How's safe hands off the bowling of O'Brien.
Vaughan and Cook fared little better after the tourists had been inserted, the captain departing for a second ball duck in the second over when O'Brien induced an inside edge before the ball was gloved by Bevan Griggs.
Strauss departed with the score at 17 and then Cook, who had looked assured on a lively wicket, was snapped up by Jeetan Patel after playing an uppish on drive from Gillepsie.
Ian Bell joined the procession when South African-born Wellington allrounder Grant Elliott struck with just his fourth ball when Griggs again had safe hands behind the stumps .
England's stuttering innings deteriorated even further shortly before lunch when Paul Collingwood (2) edged Elliott behind and then Pietersen succumbed three balls after posting his half century, feathering a Mark Orchard delivery to give Griggs his fourth catch of the morning.
- NZPA
