CHRISTCHURCH, March 9: England were held to a draw by Canterbury at the end of their three-day tour match Saturday, as the local batsmen enjoyed the benefits of a benign pitch and the visiting attack toiled for little reward.

At the close of play, Canterbury had amassed 175 for two, with Robbie Frew top-scoring on 72 — to go with 44 in the first innings — and fellow opener Shanan Stewart contributing 58 as the pair put on a first wicket partnership of 112.

Batting on from their overnight score of 400-8, England declared their first innings on 432-9 at the fall of Craig White’s wicket for 73, a lead of 220.

The tourists had a poor start in the field when Stewart was dropped by Ashley Giles in the slips before scoring.

CANTERBURY (1st Innings) 212-8 dec (C.Z. Harris 82; A.R. Caddick 5-69).

ENGLAND (1st Innings, overnight 400-8):

M.A. Butcher c Harris b Cornelius 39

M.P. Vaughan c Harris b Wiseman 156

N. Hussain run out 69

M.R. Ramprakash c Frew b Wiseman 5

U. Afzaal c Cornelius b Wisneski 19

A. Flintoff c and b Harris 1

C. White c Harris b Wiseman 73

J.S. Foster b Wisneski 3

A.F. Giles c Harris b Wisneski 26

A.R. Caddick not out 15

EXTRAS (LB-8, NB-18) 26

TOTAL (for nine dec, 106 overs) 432

FALL OF WKTS: 1-71, 2-278, 3-279, 4-284, 5-286, 6-329, 7-333, 8-383, 9-432.

DID NOT BAT: M.J. Hoggard.

BOWLING: Wisneski 20-3-88-3 (10nb); Martin 23-3-92-0 (1nb); Cornelius 15-2-85-1; Harris 18-4-45-1 (7nb); Wiseman 21-2-90-3; Astle 9-2-24-0.

CANTERBURY (2nd Innings):

R.M. Frew b Giles 72

S.L. Stewart c Giles b White 58

M.H.W. Papps not out 30

G.J. Hopkins not out 2

EXTRAS (LB-10, NB-3) 13

TOTAL (for two wkts, 73 overs) 175

FALL OF WKTS: 1-115, 2-172.

BOWLING: Caddick 12-8-15-0 (1nb); Hoggard 20-3-71-0 (1nb); Giles 23-11-40-1; White 12-3-28-1 (1nb); Flintoff 6-2-11-0.—Reuters