Marshall batted at number three

Hamish Marshall scored a fine century and Craig McMillan cracked an unbeaten 52 to steer New Zealand to a five-wicket win over Essex at Chelmsford.

Marshall hit 111 from only 97 balls, sharing in a crucial stand of 82 with McMillan for the fourth wicket.

Opener Nathan Astle also hit 41 as the tourists reached their target with over 11 overs to spare.

Earlier, Essex captain Ronnie Irani returned to form with an unbeaten 72 as his side posted 243-3.

Irani and Ravinder Bopara (40) shared an unbroken stand of 100 after Paul Grayson was run out for 57.

Daryl Tuffey and Jacob Oram both picked up a wicket apiece, although paceman Ian Butler went for 48 runs in his eight overs.

The match was the second of three warm-up games for the tourists before they open the NatWest Series against England next Thursday.

Essex: W I Jefferson, A Habib, R S Bopara, R C Irani (Capt), M L Pettini (Wkt), A P Grayson, J D Middlebrook, A P Cowan, R N ten Doeschate, A J Clarke, S A Brant.

New Zealand: S P Fleming (Capt), N J Astle, H J H Marshall, S B Styris, C D McMillan, C L Cairns, J D P Oram, C Z Harris, G J Hopkins (Wkt), D R Tuffey, I G Butler.