SPORTS

Australia beat Kiwis in warm-up

September 09, 2007 16:11 IST

World one-day champions Australia survived an early wobble to beat New Zealand on the first day of official warm-up matches ahead of the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa on Saturday.

Chasing a formidable target of 182-8 in Benoni, Australia lost both Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist for ducks in the first over bowled by Shane Bond while Brad Hodge went for eight in the second over to leave the innings in disarray at 15-3.

But Andrew Symonds (70) and Mike Hussey (72) led an Australian fight back with a fourth wicket stand of 113 including a combined 14 fours and six sixes which helped win the game by four wickets with ten balls to spare.

Earlier Craig McMillan smashed 60 from only 29 balls with five fours and four sixes while Ross Taylor made 53 from 39 deliveries. Australian leg spinner Brad Hogg suffered more than most bowling three overs at a cost of 51 runs.

The Twenty20 tournament begins on Tuesday.

Hosts South Africa lost to World Cup finalists Sri Lanka by five wickets with seven balls to spare in Potchefstroom.

Captain Graeme Smith led the way with 46 from 35 balls while big-hitting Justin Kemp launched a trio of sixes in an innings of 32 but the total of 161-9 always looked modest.

Veteran opener Sanath Jayasuriya belted 46 from 34 balls as Sri Lanka coasted to a comfortable victory.

Pakistan, inspired by new captain Shoaib Malik's unbeaten 64 from just 37 deliveries, overwhelmed Zimbabwe by 54 runs in Centurion with fast bowler Umar Gul and leg spinner Shahid Afridi claiming three wickets apiece at a miserly cost of just 11 and 17 runs respectively.

The afternoon match at the same venue was similarly one-sided with Scotland managing a reasonable total of 145-8 thanks to 54 from Navdeep Poonia but Bangladesh cruised passed their target with four overs to spare, Mohammad Nazimuddin top scoring with an unbeaten 74.

In Benoni the West Indies cruised to victory with two and a half overs to spare against a plucky Kenyan side which posted a respectable 155-5 thanks to 43 from 20-year-old Tanmay Mishra and 30s by Maurice Ouma and Thomas Odoyo.

But Marlon Samuels blasted 63 from 30 balls with three fours and six sixes to dominate a stand of 105 with Shivnarine Chanderpaul (46 not out) to close the game.

Source: REUTERS
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