March 02, 2008	Sunday	Safar 23, 1429

DUNEDIN (New Zealand), March 1: Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell both scored centuries for England in their drawn practice match against the New Zealand Invitational XI here on Saturday.

Strauss retired on 104 and Bell finished 104 not out as England made amends for their dismal first innings total of 131 by making 325 for seven in their second knock.

The match was abandoned at tea on the third and final day at Dunedin’s University Oval because of rain with neither side in a position to push for a win.

Strauss virtually assured himself of a recall to the Test side for next week’s opening match against New Zealand with a patient display over four and a half hours.

Bell continued his impressive form in the series with a chanceless innings including 15 fours and a six but England one-day skipper Paul Collingwood failed to get some valuable practice ahead of the Test, departing for a fourth ball duck.

Scoreboard

ENGLAND (1st Innings) 131 (K.P. Pietersen 50; I.E. O’Brien 4-34).

NEW ZEALAND SELECTION XI (1st Innings) 271 (J.M. How 65; S.J. Harmison 5-100).

ENGLAND (2nd Innings, overnight 155-3):

A.N. Cook c sub b Gillespie 12

M.P. Vaughan c Griggs b Gillespie 13

A.J. Strauss retired out 104

K.P. Pietersen c Griggs b Orchard 53

I.R. Bell not out 104

P.D. Collingwood c Orchard b Patel 0

T.R. Ambrose b O’Brien 33

M.J. Hoggard c Taylor b O’Brien 0

M.S. Panesar not out 3

EXTRAS (LB-2, NB-1) 1

TOTAL (for seven wkts, 89 overs) 325

FALL OF WKTS: 1-25, 2-27, 3-117, 4-242, 5-242, 6-302, 7-306.

BOWLING: Gillespie 17-1-74-2 (1nb); O’Brien 22-3-98-0; Orchard 11-2-35-1; Elliott 13-2-28-0; Patel 24-4-84-2; Taylor 2-0-4-0.

RESULT: Match drawn.

UMPIRES: B.G. Frost and P.D. Jones.—Agencies