World Cup Warm up: Steve Smith 76 powers Australia to seven wicket win
Needing 230 to win, Smith and Shaun Marsh put on a 109-run stand for the third wicket as Australia got over the line with 70 balls to spare.
Published : May 22, 2019 22:21 IST
Steve Smith announced his return to one-day international cricket in style with a 82-ball 76 as Australia beat the West Indies by seven wickets in an unofficial World Cup warm-up match against the West Indies in Southampton.
Needing 230 to win, Smith and Shaun Marsh (55 not out) put on a 109-run stand for the third wicket as Australia got over the line with 70 balls to spare. Aaron Finch, David Warner and Smith were the only wickets to fall in a run chase which got Australia's world cup preparations off to a solid start.
West Indies, inserted in to bat, rode on fifties by Evin Lewis (50 off 56 balls) and Carlos Brathwaite (60 off 64) to post a modest 229 after Australia's seamers triggered an early collapse of 5-46.
Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwell and Coulter-Nile grabbed two wickets each while Jason Behrendorff and Adam Zampa picked up one each. Zampa got rid of the in-form Andre Russell, cleaning him up for just five.
Meanwhile, Usman Khawaja, who copped a nasty blow to the head from a bouncer by Andre Russell, has been taken to the hospital for scans.
Australia will begin its World Cup defence against Afghanistan at the County Ground in Bristol on June 1.