13 November 2019 12:07 am
Dominic Sibley shakes hands with Zak Crawley
Dominic Sibley and Zak Crawley boosted their England Test hopes as they made centuries on the first day of a tour match against a New Zealand XI at the Cobham Oval in Whangarei yesterday.
Uncapped Sibley, who opened the batting with Rory Burns, reached three figures from 161 balls before retiring, as England posted 285 for three.
Kent’s Crawley, who is also uncapped, compiled 103 from 137 balls batting at three before retiring.
England’s first Test against New Zealand begins on November 21.
The only wicket to fall during the day was opener Burns, who was dismissed by Henry Shipley for 23.
Captain Joe Root was on 41 at the close, with Ollie Pope also unbeaten on nine.
The start of the match was delayed by three and a half hours by rain but Sibley and Crawley cashed in when play began.
Sibley, who is widely expected to make his Test debut in Tauranga, was the only batsman to score over 1,000 runs in Division One of the County Championship last season.
England: 285/3 (Dominic Sibley 100, Zak Crawley 103) vs New Zealand XI (BBC)