Strauss and Harmison lead England fightback

Andrew Strauss reached his half-century and Steve Harmison claimed five wickets on the second day of England's final warm-up match.

A New Zealand Select XI dominated the first day by bowling England out for 131 then opening a comfortable lead.

But Harmison helped to bowl the home team out for 271.

He removed Grant Elliott and Mark Orchard with successive balls but Bevan Griggs survived the hat-trick ball.

At the start of England's second innings, captain Michael Vaughan was caught behind for 13 and Alastair Cook followed soon after for 12, but Strauss settled into a third-wicket partnership with Kevin Pietersen that put on 90 runs.

Pietersen was eventually caught behind for 53 but Strauss will resume on 55 at the start of the final day.

England were 155 for three at the close, leading by 15 runs.

Harmison has only just joined up with the squad following the birth of his fourth child.

He said: "At this moment in time I'm still trying to find my feet and find the right length on these wickets because I've only been in the country eight days.

"I wouldn't have swapped coming here late for the world but I am the sort of bowler that does take time to being used to being in a different country and I feel I've acclimatised better than I thought I would which is a bonus.

"There were some quick balls, there were some good balls but there some bad balls in there as well but the more I've gone on during this trip so far there have been more good balls in an over than bad balls so I've got to be relatively happy."

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