A patient Michael Carberry innings and a thrilling Luke Wright century helped the England Lions on a difficult first day against New Zealand at the Rose Bowl.
Hampshire left-hander Carberry opened the batting with Lions captain Robert Key and hit a vital 41 (137 balls) while his former Kent teammate, Owais Shah, Ravi Bopara and Matthew Prior were being dismissed at the other end.
Playing in front of national selector Geoff Miller, he refused to take any chances on a bouncy but true pitch before finally breaking loose in the 24th over, hitting two of his four fours in succession off off-spinner Jeetan Patel.
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Carberry and Key ground out 49 in 29 overs before Key was trapped lbw four balls after the interval as he attempted to force Martin through mid-wicket.
Owais Shah edged behind pushing forward defensively and Ravi Bopara lost his stumps five overs later after attempting to leave a delivery from Tim Southee (3-80).
Wicket-keeper Matt Prior drove Martin loosely straight to gully and Carberry, who had battled for 44 overs, mis-timed an attempted drive off Iain O'Brien straight to mid-off.
Carberry saw off the new ball for Luke Wright, who blasted a superb century.The Sussex all-rounder smacked two sixes in his 131-ball 120 to help England Lions post 280, having been a precarious 89-5.
Chris Martin (3-58) sparked a slump before Wright dominated stands of 81 with Adil Rashid (27) and 77 with Matthew Hoggard (28).
Jacob Oram (3-34) also bowled well but it was Wright's day.
He and Rashid had put on 81 in 25 overs when Oram struck three times in six overs.
He tempted Rashid into driving straight to short extra-cover, won an lbw shout against Graeme Swann and then had Hampshire fast bowler Chris Tremlett (3) caught behind.
Wright, who was dropped on 28 at short mid-wicket off Patel shortly after tea, then accelerated.
He hit Martin for a straight six down the ground and Hoggard provided determined support before Southee rearranged his stumps.
Wright was last man out having reached his century with a slog sweep for six over mid-wicket off Southee.
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