Preparations please McCullum

Brendon McCullum was satisfied with his side's display © Getty Images

Buy this photo

New Zealand vice-captain Brendon McCullum, who was leading the side in the absence of injured captain Daniel Vettori, was satisfied with the build-up to the npower Test series after their four-day tour match with England Lions at the Rose Bowl ended in a draw.

Having been set a challenging 368 off a minimum of 75 overs for victory, the tourists settled for a draw after they finished on 201 for four with 15 overs remaining.

It denied New Zealand a second successive victory following their triumph over Essex last week as they begin their final preparations for the opening npower Test at Lord's on Thursday and was just what the England selectors ordered from their Lions.

New Zealand openers Jamie How and Aaron Redmond both scored half-centuries during a 150-run stand and most of their bowlers - with the exception of calf-strain victim Iain O'Brien - got a good workout.

"McCullum said: "I think this was a thorough workout leading into the Test match.

"I think we got through some pretty sound work for the bowlers and the batsmen really put their hands up and took their opportunities.

"Hopefully we lead into the Test match with some real confidence after this display."

McCullum also confirmed Vettori has now had his stitches removed from his left index finger, which forced him to miss the Lions match, and New Zealand remain hopeful he will be fit enough to lead them out at Lord's on Thursday.

Lions captain Rob Key hailed the display of emerging Yorkshire leg-spinner Adil Rashid, who claimed three wickets on the final day to prevent the tourists scoring at a quick enough rate to challenge their target.

"It was good to get those wickets in that last session and Adil Rashid bowled brilliantly towards the end," Key said.

"It would have been slightly different if they were one or no wicket down at the close - it would have been honours even.

"But we went about our business pretty well. They probably won the first day, but from then on we were pretty much on top, almost, and it would have been pretty interesting to see if we had another day to go."

Having played against New Zealand earlier on their tour for Kent, though, Key does believe they are steadily getting used to the conditions and has warned England against underestimating them at Lord's later this week.

"They're certainly an improving side, I think," he added.

"I played them in one of their first games on tour and there's a bit more life in this pitch, but they're a very well-oiled outfit really.

"You can't underestimate them. They haven't got that legend of the game coming in and there's no Murali no Warne, that sort of thing.

"They're just a very well drilled outfit who stick to their plan pretty well and its our job to negate that and try to be as positive as you can - they know their game and they just stick to it and it's whether or not you're up to it."