Stuart Broad claimed four wickets on his return to action but England were frustrated by an ICC Combined XI on the first day of their tour match.
The ICC XI found themselves struggling on 82-5 following a devastating early spell from Broad.
Andrew Strauss's side could not kill off the opposition, however, as Namibian international Christi Viljoen joined Irish seamer Boyd Rankin to put in a stand of 96.
Broad denied Viljoen a century as the ICC XI were eventually dismissed for 281 as Jimmy Anderson, Steven Finn and Graeme Swann all finished with two wickets.
Strauss and fellow opener Alastair Cook guided England to stumps and they will resume tomorrow morning on 16-0.
