TOM Banton made a winning start to his England career, as Jonny Bairstow’s unbeaten 78 led the tourists past a New Zealand XI in their first T20 warm-up match in Lincoln.

England fielded uncapped Somerset batsman Tom Banton and pace bowlers Pat Brown and Saqib Mahmood in their side.

Batting first, New Zealand XI made 172-4, with Anton Devcich contributing 62 and Anaru Kitchen 50no.

Adil Rashid took 2-25 for England, while Banton took the catch to dismiss Christian Leopard (5).

Come the reply, Banton opened alongside World Cup winner Bairstow, and was first to go for 11, which included one six and a four, from eight balls as he was trapped lbw by Lockie Ferguson.

Ferguson went on to claim 3-32, but with Sam Billings contributing 28 and Sam Curran 28no in support of Bairstow, England secured a six-wicket victory in 18.1 overs.

England play a second warm-up match against a New Zealand XI at the same venue on Tuesday, with Banton and his Somerset team-mate Lewis Gregory looking to press their claims for selection come the start of the T20 international series in Christchurch on Friday.

The five-match T20I series runs from November 1 to November 10.