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Tourists take honours at Rose Bowl
09.05.08New Zealand continued their impressive build-up to next week's opening Test by undermining the claims of a trio of England hopefuls in their final warm-up match at the Rose Bowl.
Facing an England Lions side including eight internationals, the tourists looked set for the toughest test of their tour so far having boosted spirits with a convincing victory over Essex last week.
But after struggling through the morning session as the Lions survived unscathed until lunch, New Zealand bounced back strongly after losing the toss and dismissed England for 280 despite a defiant 120 from Luke Wright.
It was an impressive performance just a week before the start of the npower Test series at Lord's, particularly with a line-up missing injured captain Daniel Vettori and rested seamer Kyle Mills.
Their display also damaged the hopes of leading trio Rob Key, Owais Shah and Ravi Bopara - widely regarded as the next batsmen in line should England decide to change their mis-firing top order - in front of coach Peter Moores and National Selector Geoff Miller.
Kent batsman Key, who was leading the Lions, showed great application during a 49-run stand with Hampshire's Michael Carberry which appeared to have laid the foundation for a major England total during a painstaking opening session.
Just four balls after lunch, however, Key's 123-minute knock was ended when he was given lbw for 23 to Chris Martin attempting to force through mid-wicket.
Key's innings was the most successful of the trio hoping to gain an England recall, with Middlesex batsman Shah falling in Martin's next over when he pushed forward defensively and edged behind for three.
Bopara fell just five overs later when he attempted to leave a ball outside off stump from young seamer Tim Southee but instead got an inside edge onto his stumps for seven.
The manner of their dismissals set the tone for the Lions innings with Matt Prior, another player with a point to prove after being discarded as England's wicketkeeper during the winter, driving Martin tamely to gully for 10 to earn him his third victim.
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