Four Blackcaps have retired not out, after making half-centuries against county side Sussex, as they prepare for their crucial test series against England next month.
After losing the opening day of the four-day fixture to rain, the NZ men made the most of their opportunity for time at the wicket, with openers Tom Latham (65no) and Will Young (55no) both reach fifties, then stepping aside to give their teammates a chance.
The tourists reached 177, before actually losing a wicket, when Pakistan signing Mohammad Rizwan tumbled backwards to catch Hamish Rutherford off the bowling of Delray Rawlins for 31.
Rookie Michael Bracewell (51no) and wicketkeeper Tom Blundell (51no) also reached their half-tons before retiring, but Cam Fletcher wasn't so fortunate, falling to a first-ball duck.
The only other wicket to fall was all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme for 26 off 29 balls, while Rachin Ravindra and Kyle Jamieson reached their 20s by the end of play.
New Zealand had only 12 players available for the match, with several frontline performers still contesting the Indian Premier League, middle-order batter Henry Nicholls nursing a calf strain and fast bowler Blair Tickner testing positive for COVID-19.
While they faced a youthful Sussex bowling attack, former international Ollie Robinson used the outing to push his case for future selection, after concerns over his fitness. He bowled 18 overs, but took no wickets for 42 runs.
The contest was also an opportunity for the tourists to face the Dukes ball in unfamiliar conditions.
"To get out there, on a nice surface, for all the guys to get a good hit and some time under their belts is always nice," said NZ batting coach Luke Ronchi.
"It's those challenges you want to face when you first arrive. Not just him [Robinson], but all the guys got it to nibble around a bit and use that Dukes ball the way they can. For our guys to come from home to here, to face that and get through that challenge is what we're after.
"It's nice to bat through the day and a few guys get some runs."
The four-day match against Sussex has now been reduced to three, with a second hit-out against FCC XI scheduled to begin on May 26 and the first test against Brendon McCullum-coached England at Lord's on June 2.
New Zealand 342/3 (Latham 65no, Young 55no, M Bracewell 51no, Blundell 51no, Rawlins 2/63) Sussex
NZ lead by 342 runs
