Trott leads Lions fight

Jonathan Trott was England Lions' outstanding bowler with 3-31 against the hosts

England Lions were made to work hard in the field on the first day of action on their month-long tour of New Zealand.

A century from left-handed opener Josh Brodie helped New Zealand Cricket Emerging Players close on 321 for seven in a 12-a-side game in which one player from each team will not bat.

Lions captain Rob Key had opted to bowl first in the two-day game at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln but his opening bowlers, Sajid Mahmood and Mark Davies, struggled to back up the decision.

Seamer Jonathan Trott was the tourists’ most successful bowler with 3-31 from 13 economical overs. Luke Wright chipped in with 2-56 while Liam Plunkett and Gareth Batty each claimed a wicket.

Twenty-one-year-old Brodie (124 from 216 balls) and host skipper Tim McIntosh (43) put on 101 for the first wicket before Trott struck.

Besides Brodie, no other New Zealand batsman reached fifty as wickets fell at regular intervals. Brandon Hiini (nine) and Te Ahu Davis (26) were unbeaten at the close.