New Zealand pacemen Daryl Tuffey and injury-plagued Shane Bond toiled in the gloom of New Road here on Friday as Worcestershire reached 163-3 at stumps on the first day of a four-day tour match.
Tuffey removed both openers cheaply before the home side recovered on a day when only 50 overs were bowled while Bond, who has been out of the Test side for a year since suffering a stress fracture in his back, struggled to impress.
Bond, the quickest bowler available to the Black Caps, has adjusted his action to ease the burden on his back but he is still not guranteed to start the first Test against England at Lord's on May 20.
On Friday, he sent down just five overs conceding 24 runs.
Tuffey's two for 18 in eight overs claimed Stephen Moore, who made 18, before edging the ball to wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum while Stephen Peters, on nine, gave a catch to Mark Richardson at mid-wicket.
Graeme Hick and Ben Smith put on 69 before left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori claimed Hick for 36 when Bond took a good catch at mid-off.
{{/usCountry}}Graeme Hick and Ben Smith put on 69 before left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori claimed Hick for 36 when Bond took a good catch at mid-off.
{{/usCountry}}When bad light stopped play, Smith had made 72 while Kadeer Ali was on 25.