Elite cricket giant Australia beat New Zealand by 3 runs in an ICC World Twenty20 warm-up match at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah on Wednesday. Replying to Australia’s 200 runs, New Zealand scored 197 for 9 in 20 overs with Martin Guptill making 62 runs off 34 balls with 5 fours and 4 sixes. Skipper Brendon McCullum scored 37 runs off 18 balls with four fours and two sixes. Corey Anderson made 29 runs off 17 balls with four fours while Luke Ronchi scored 21 runs off 15 balls with two fours and a six and opener Kane Williamson scored 17 runs from 12 balls with 2 fours and a six. Mitchell Starc, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Brad Hogg and James Muirhead took two wickets each for 21, 36, 36 and 40 runs respectively. Earlier, batting first after winning the toss, Australia scored 200 runs for seven in 20 overs with opener David Warner quick-firing 65 runs off 26 balls, including 7 fours and 5 sixes. In the opening stand, David Warner pairing with Aaron Finch made 113 runs for 1 in 7.6 overs before they retired. Aaron Finch scored 47 runs off 22 balls with 9 fours and a six while Shane Watson made 27 runs facing 18 balls with three sixes and Brad Hodge and skipper George Bailey scored 25 and 19 runs respectively. Kyle Mills captured two wickets for 21 runs in his four overs spell while Anton Devcich, Corey Anderson and Ronnie Hira took one wicket each 15, 23 and 44 runs respectively. – UNB, Dhaka.
