Opener Hamish Rutherford underlined his claims to make his Test cricket debut against England next week with a well-compiled 90 for the New Zealand XI against the tourists.

At stumps on the second day of the four-day match in Queenstown, the NZ XI were 6-224 in their first innings in reply to England’s 426.

It was disappointing end to the day for the home side, who lost two wickets in the last six balls.

At 4-223, they had given themselves a platform to launch from on day three, but Dean Brownlie was caught down the leg side for 63 off a Jonathan Trott delivery.

Jimmy Neesham followed shortly after for a duck after being spinner Graeme Swann’s second lbw victim.

Earlier, Rutherford hit 13 fours and a six during his 214-minute stay at the crease.

He was looking comfortable when he misjudged a delivery from Chris Woakes and was bowled between bat and pad.

Rutherford, 23, made his first appearances for the Black Caps in this month’s Twenty20 and one-day series against England.

He is seen as being in a contest with 20-year-old NZ XI skipper Tom Latham to partner Peter Fulton at the top of the order in the first Test beginning on Wednesday in Dunedin.

Rutherford and Latham put on 56 for the first wicket before Latham fell to the first ball after lunch, trapped lbw by Swann for 16.

England resumed in the morning at 7-357 and added 69 runs before century-maker Ian Bell was the last man out.

Bell took his overnight score from 127 to 158 before mistiming a ball from Neil Wagner.

Substitute fielder Michael Rae produced a great effort at deep mid-off to hold on to the chance and snare his third catch.

Wagner, a contender to fill the final seamer’s spot in the Black Caps’ 13-strong Test squad, finished with 4-98, while fellow pace bowler Neesham took 4-73.