England impress in warm-up

Alastair Cook got England off to an excellent start with a quick innings of 85 © Getty Images

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Owais Shah rode his luck before falling four runs short of a timely century in the warm-up match against a New Zealand Invitational XI as he attempts to force a recall in the build-up to England's opening Test against New Zealand next week.

Shah struggled to make an impact during the one-day series as England slipped to a 3-1 defeat and entered the two-day match, one of two warm-up games before the opening Test in Hamilton, knowing he needed runs to stand any chance of a recall.

But while Andrew Strauss, his main rival for the remaining spot in England's top order, struggled and scored only four, Shah was given two reprieves on his way to scoring 96 as the tourists reached 369 for nine at the close of the opening day after being put into bat.

Shah's first escape came as he reached 28 shortly after lunch when he appeared to inside edge left-arm seamer Craig Smith behind and was superbly caught by wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins.

But the appeal was rejected and Shah progressed to 38 before being given another reprieve when he chipped a catch to Sam Wells at mid-on after mistiming a drive off Mark Gillespie - only for the straightforward chance to be spilled.

He recovered to hit 14 fours and a six before top-edging a sweep off off-spinner Will Somerville and was superbly caught at short fine-leg.

Alastair Cook had earlier impressed during an opening session dominated by England against opposition which included five members of New Zealand's last Test side.

Cook hit 85 off 81 balls, including 16 boundaries, which boosted England's spirits leading into the opening Test and his display was in stark contract to Strauss.

Owais Shah battles for a place in England's line-up for the first Test match © Getty Images

Dropped after failing to score a century in his previous 25 Test innings, Strauss fell in the ninth over when he played a defensive shot to seamer Gillespie and, in attempting to prevent the ball from rolling back onto the stumps, hit his wicket.

Captain Michael Vaughan contributed a fluent 27, which included three boundaries in an over from seamer Iain O'Brien, to a 108-run stand with Cook which provided England with hope for the Test series ahead.

But Vaughan pushed too hard at a full-length delivery from left-arm seamer Smith and edged behind as he attempted to match the aggression shown by Cook.

Just as Cook seemed set for a century, however, he drove at Wells, who claimed a smart return catch to end his brilliant innings.

Ian Bell also contributed a useful 75 in two innings, having earlier retired on 59 only to return to form a last wicket partnership with Monty Panesar which prevented England being forced to bowl before the close.

But wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose, playing his first innings of the tour, failed in his bid to score runs to secure the Test spot behind the stumps and fell for two while rival Phil Mustard edged behind for 10.

Meanwhile, Paul Collingwood became the second England player to celebrate a new baby since the squad's arrival in New Zealand.

England's one-day captain received the news overnight of the birth of his new baby daughter Keira.

It comes just a week after Durham team-mate Steve Harmison stayed behind in England to witness the birth of his son Charlie before flying out to New Zealand.