WHANGAREI: Dom Sibley and Zac Crawley staked their claims for England Test debuts with unbeaten centuries in their first warm-up match in New Zealand, which ended in a draw in Whangarei on Wednesday.

Stuart Broad was also in sharp form with a miserly one for 15 off nine overs against a New Zealand XI made up of fringe first-class players. Given a chance to acclimatize to New Zealand conditions, Sibley made a disciplined 100 and Crawley 103 before both retired, while Joe Root hit an unbeaten 41 at a run-a-ball pace.

In reply to England’s two for 376 declared, the New Zealand XI were 285 for four at the close of the two-day match. In contrast to Broad’s tight performance with the ball, Jofra Archer took two for 46 off 11 overs while Ben Stokes finished with none for 33 off eight.

A three-day match against New Zealand ‘A’ starts in Whangarei on Friday with the first Test beginning in Mount Maunganui on Nov 21.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2019