Captain Adam Hollioake was the main inspiration with 81 from 78 balls, while brother Ben hit 51 as a Queensland Country XI were beaten by 53 runs.

Their performances put the Englishmen on their way to 281-7 from their 50 overs, a target which proved too much for the Queensland Country side which was bowled out for 228 in 49.5 overs.

Tiring attack

The skipper, overlooked for the Ashes series, came to the crease with his side struggling at 83-4 in the 20th over.

But he scored runs from a tiring attack and struck 10 boundaries to all parts of the ground.

He was well-supported by younger brother Ben, who was with the Ashes party before transferring to Brisbane during the Test win in Melbourne.

Mark Alleyne: Fifty and three wickets

Gloucestershire's Mark Alleyne added an unbeaten 52 from 49 balls, including a massive six over mid-wicket off the final delivery of the innings.

Brad Smith was the pick of the country bowlers with 3-39 from eight overs while Wayne Smith picked up 2-33 from his seven overs.

Controlled English bowling ensured Queensland Country never looked likely of reeling in a big target on a damp outfield.

They did move solidly to 86-1 after 22 overs before David Todd holed out to Gavin Hamilton at deep square leg from Warwickshire spinner Ashley Giles.

Another player who was on the first stage of the tour, spinner Robert Croft was introduced midway through the innings.

Crawley behind the stumps

He slowed the Country scoring rate to finish with 2-28 off seven overs, including the wicket of May who was well-stumped by the third man to leave Melbourne, John Crawley.

The Lancashire man, who continued his poor batting form with 19, performed well behind the stumps with three catches while Alleyne backed up his batting effort with 3-31.

Wednesday's game was the first outing for the English one-day squad which will contest the tri-series against Australia and world champion Sri Lanka next month.

Ten of the 16-man English squad played against Queensland Country.

Ashes players Alec Stewart, Nasser Hussain, Graeme Hick, Dean Headley, Darren Gough and Alan Mullally will all join the squad after the fifth Test in Sydney next week.

England innings

N Knight run out 6
V Wells c W.Smith b B Smith 26
B Hollioake b Toohey 51
J Crawley c Frakes b W Smith 19
N Fairbrother b W Smith 0
A Hollioake c Jesberg b B Smith 81
M Alleyne not out 52
M Ealham c Else b B Smith 1
R Croft not out 12

Extras 33

Total 281 for 7 (50 overs, innings closed)

Fall: 1-26 2-49 3-83 4-83 5-146 6-236 7-238

Did not bat: A Giles, G Hamilton

Bowling: Schossow 8-0-64-0, B Smith 8-1-39-3, Jesburg 10-1-38-0, W.Smith 7-0-33-2, L. Wilson 5-0-26-0, Toohey 9-0-46-1, Rynne 3-0-16-0

Queensland Country XI innings

D Todd c Hamilton b Giles 42
D Else c Crawley b Hamilton 0
B May st Crawley b Croft 59
D Frakes lbw b Croft 9
S Rynne not out 44
C Window lbw b Alleyne 6
C Jesburg c Crawley b Alleyne 7
P Toohey c Crawley b A Hollioake 7
W Smith c B.Hollioake b Alleyne 22
G Schossow c Giles b Wells 7
B Smith b Wells 0

Extras 25

Total 228 all out (49.5 overs)

Fall of wickets: 1-1 2-86 3-112 4-139 5-150 6-160 7-167 8-197 9-226

Bowling: B Hollioake 5-1-20-0, Hamilton 5-0-18-1, Ealham 9-1-35-0, Giles 9-0-26-1, Croft 7-0-28-2, Wells 5.5-0-31-2, Alleyne 5-0-31-3, A Hollioake 4-0-25-1