Buttler scores century in warm up draw
The Lancashire wicketkeeper scored 110 in the final match before the first Test against New Zealand
Jos Buttler warmed up for England's Test series against New Zealand with a century against the hosts' 'A' side in Whangerai.
Batting at number eight in a rejigged order due to the employment of a nightwatchman, Buttler scored 110 off 153 balls to cement his place in Chris Silverwood's XI for the first Test.
It was his sixth First-Class century, with the three-day match handed First-Class status, ahead of the two-game series starting in Mount Maunganui on Wednesday evening (UK time).
Buttler was the middle-order glue as he added 95 with Joe Denly, 114 with Ollie Pope before later putting on 71 for the ninth wicket alongside Jofra Archer.
Also keeping wicket in the absence of Jonny Bairstow in the squad, he completed five catches in the match and looks set to keep wicket for the series, which does not count towards the ICC Test Championship.
The match was drawn as England replied to the hosts' 302/6 declared with 405 all out. Batting a second time around, New Zealand 'A' ended on 169/8.
Fellow Lancashire men Saqib Mahmood and Matt Parkinson were not selected for the fixture but will remain hopeful of securing a first Test cap on the tour, which concludes in Hamilton.
2020 Internationals at Emirates Old Trafford
Tickets are now on general sale for England's two international fixtures at Emirates Old Trafford next summer.
They face Australia in a Vitality IT20 on Sunday 7 July before taking on Pakistan in a Specsavers Test match between Thursday 7 to Monday 11 August.