CHRISTCHURCH (AP):

Ian Bell scored 79 and James Anderson took five for 47 as England beat a Canterbury provincial XI by 51 runs in the first limited-overs match of its New Zealand cricket tour yesterday.

Bell's top score, compiled from 89 balls, and Alistair Cook's 51 guided England to 295 for six in their 50 overs. Kevin Pietersen added an entertaining 48 from 50 balls and Luke Wright smashed 42 not out from 15 deliveries with three sixes and three fours.

Canterbury were all out for 244 in 48.1 overs in reply. Anderson bowled superbly to take five wickets from 10 overs of fast, accurate bowling, while Dimitri Mascharenas bagged two for 43.