Bracewell pleased with preparations

John Bracewell was delighted with his side's performance © Getty Images

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New Zealand coach John Bracewell was happy with the performance of his side ahead of the one-day matches with England as they gained a 95-run victory over Worcestershire at New Road.

The Kiwis amassed 358 for eight in their 50 overs, with opener Brendon McCullum hammering an 83-ball century.

All-rounder Scott Styris (3-25) then ripped out the Worcestershire middle-order as they collapsed from 98 without loss to 127 for five before being eventually dismissed for 263 despite 80 from skipper Vikram Solanki.

It was just the tonic New Zealand needed after the 2-0 Test series defeat by England ahead of the Twenty20 and 50-over showdowns over the next three weeks.

Former Gloucestershire coach Bracewell said: “I was pleased with the fact we got a fine day, that is certainly a bonus, and certainly the way we went about our business with the batting.

“I was very pleased with the way Ross Taylor (75) and McCullum went about their business and the intent that they showed with their running between the wickets. I was pleased with that.

“We finished quite well at the end of the innings. We might have lost a couple more wickets than we needed to but you are keen to push when in the 300s anyway.

“We were a little bit rusty with the ball to start with but we came back pretty well once we got the pace of the wicket and our lines right.

“Remember, Mark Gillespie hasn’t had a bowl for quite some time and Michael Mason has been going stir crazy watching cricket for the last month.

“I was delighted for them to get a few overs under their belt going into the next game.

“Scott (Styris) bowled a good spell. He was always going to be the sort of bowler who would be quite useful on the wicket.

Bracewell was happy with Scott Styris' efforts

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“It was very dry and crusty on top but actually played a damn sight better than it looked. Scott bowled wicket to wicket and just slightly back of a length on it, which was the length to hit rather than too full.”

Bracewell insisted his side would have no problem adjusting to one-day meetings with Paul Collingwood’s England so soon after the three-match Test series.

He said: “You get used to the quick turnover that these guys get through now. That is the international circuit these days and it is nice to get a warm-up game in rather than just go straight into a Twenty20 match, which happens on a lot of tours.

“It was also great that Worcester put out a good team. That was pretty special for us. Not many of our guys will probably get the opportunity to play against Graeme Hick again and he has been a legend in the game.

“He has also been a bit of legend in New Zealand as well when he has played there domestically. That was pretty special for our guys as well.”

Bracewell is optimistic all-rounder Tim Southee could be fit for the 50-over games, although he will not be available for Friday’s Twenty20 clash at Old Trafford.

Southee suffered an ankle injury in training yesterday but a scan showed no serious damage.

Bracewell said: “It is downgraded to just a sprained ankle. He is walking pretty freely today. He won’t be available for the Twenty20 but we will see how he scrubs up in the morning. He may even have a light bowl tomorrow so he is progressing pretty well.”