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Strauss and Harmison seek redemption with bat and ball

29/02/2008

An unbeaten half-century from Andrew Strauss and five wickets for Steve Harmison gave England's struggling heroes a boost in their Dunedin warm-up match.

On the second day of the three-day fixture the tourists bowled out the New Zealand Selection XI for 271 before advancing to 155-3 in their second innings.

Harmison finished with 5-100 from 22 overs, finding the consistency which has proved elusive in recent years as he cleaned up the middle order.

All of England's other bowlers contributed, with Panesar taking 2-27, but Chris Tremlett's tour came to a premature end as he suffered a side-strain injury.

Facing a 140-run first-innings deficit following the first-day collapse, England's openers Alastair Cook (12) and Michael Vaughan (13) failed to convince as the tourists slipped to 27-2.

But then Strauss and Kevin Pietersen (53) came to the crease, putting on a 90-run third-wicket partnership to reduce the odds of a humiliating defeat.

With Strauss playing an anchor role Pietersen was able to launch a sustained attack, hitting three sixes and four boundaries in his 71-ball innings.

Strauss improved on his first-innings score by getting into double figures and was undefeated at stumps on 55 not out.

His form on the final day could be crucial to his chances of earning a recall for the first Test against New Zealand, which begins on March 5th.