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England fall to New Zealand XI in Test warm-up

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New Zealand's BJ Watling bats on the last day of the four day warm-up international cricket match between New Zealand XI and England in Queenstown on Satirday. Photo: AFP

England lost their four-day warm-up match by three wickets on Saturday when a New Zealand XI chased down a 333-run target with eight balls to spare.

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BJ Watling led the charge with an unbeaten 89 while opener Tom Latham made 48 as England lost a first-class warm-up match for the first time since being beaten by an Indian side seven years ago.

England declared at their overnight second innings total of 256 for nine – with Matt Prior (68) the main contributor and Graeme Swann unbeaten on 41 – but their hopes for an early breakthrough did not eventuate.

Latham and Hamish Rutherford, in contention for one opening spot in the New Zealand Test team, put on 56 for the first wicket when Chris Woakes dismissed Rutherford for 33.

Stuart Broad produced a glimmer of hope when he bowled Carl Cachopa for a duck before Neil Broom (41) settled in with Latham to lead New Zealand out of trouble.

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Broad also dismissed Broom and Woakes removed Brownlie (17) to have New Zealand at 167-5 at tea before Watling dominated the final session in partnership with all-rounder Cory Anderson (44).

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