Smith stars in Aussie warm-up victory

There was an injury scare for Australia in their first UK hit-out ahead of their World Cup defence as Steve Smith extended his pre-tournament purple patch with another half-century.

In an unofficial practice match against West Indies at Hampshire's secondary ground on Wednesday, Smith was supreme in posting 76 off 82 balls, his third straight half-century (all of which have come in practice games) since returning to the national set-up earlier this month.

And the Aussies received more good news late in the day when batsman Usman Khawaja, who retired hurt after being struck by a brute of a bouncer from Andre Russell, was given the all clear after being sent to hospital for scans.

Smith was out to Carlos Brathwaite with 21 runs still required for victory before Shaun Marsh (55 off 59 balls) and Glenn Maxwell (18 off 12) guided Australia home with 11.4 overs to spare.

Earlier, captain Aaron Finch scored 42 off 47 balls before chipping one to mid-on.

In what was tipped to be a run-fest, Australia's bowlers exploited an at-times spicy pitch to engineer an early collapse of 5-46 before the Windies recovered to set their opponents 230 to win.

Opener Evin Lewis (50 off 56 balls) posted a half-century, while Carlos Brathwaite (60 off 64) cracked three sixes in a spirited rearguard late in the innings.

Spinners Adam Zampa (1-42 off nine overs) and Glenn Maxwell (2-14 off three) sparked the Windies' stumble, while Pat Cummins (2-36 off nine) had batters jumping and weaving with a series of well-directed short balls throughout the innings.

Fellow pacemen Mitchell Starc (2-34 off 8.2) and Nathan Coulter-Nile (2-25 off six) were the other multiple wicket-takers.

Image Id: F8B9FC6F85B745F2BB257597BDF7CB47 Image Caption: Cummins finished with 2-36 and a catch // Getty

After Finch won the toss and elected to bowl first on a sunny morning, wicketkeeper Alex Carey reeled in a superb one-handed catch off a Cummins short ball to give Australia their first wicket.

Sharing the new ball with Starc, fellow left-armer Jason Behrendorff copped some early stick; Shai Hope (21) pumped him for back-to-back sixes over long-off, while Lewis deposited him onto the concourse of the neighbouring main ground.

Lewis' six very nearly struck a forklift driver preparing the main ground for Australia's official warm-up games against England on Saturday and Sri Lanka on Monday.

Six-hitting star Russell couldn't repeat his recent Indian Premier League heroics as Zampa knocked back his off-stump to remove him for just five.

Image Id: AC4ECA9450194E7E8CA5152290F9E809 Image Caption: Steve Smith sent down two overs for 11 runs // Getty

In a good sign as he returns to full fitness following recent elbow surgery, Smith was thrown the ball and bowled two overs of leg-spin, conceding 11.

From 6-104, Brathwaite played an important hand for the Windies. He forced an extended delay in play when he deposited Behrendorff, who got hit for five sixes in total, onto the adjacent golf course, before holing out on the very next delivery.

The Windies were bowled out for 229 in the 47th over.

Australia rested Nathan Lyon, Marcus Stoinis and Kane Richardson for the match, though they're expected to rotate their 15-man squad through the practice games this week.

Veteran opener Chris Gayle also sat out the match, but him aside, the Windies fielded their entire touring party, including some reserves not named in their squad.

Australia XII: Aaron Finch (c), Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Steve Smith, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Jason Behrendorff, Adam Zampa.

West Indies XIV: Jason Holder (c), Evin Lewis, Darren Bravo, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope (wk), Nicholas Pooran (wk), Carlos Brathwaite, Andre Russell, Ashley Nurse, Shannon Gabriel, Fabian Allen, Kemar Roach, Oshane Thomas, Sheldon Cottrell. 

2019 World Cup

Australia's squad: Aaron Finch (c), Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

May 22: (warm-up) Australia beat West Indies by seven wickets

May 25: (warm-up) England v Australia, Southampton

May 27: (warm-up) Australia v Sri Lanka, Southampton

June 1: Afghanistan v Australia, Bristol (D/N)

June 6: Australia v West Indies, Trent Bridge

June 9: India v Australia, The Oval

June 12: Australia v Pakistan, Taunton

June 15: Sri Lanka v Australia, The Oval

June 20: Australia v Bangladesh, Trent Bridge

June 25: England v Australia, Lord's

June 29: New Zealand v Australia, Lord's (D/N)

July 6: Australia v South Africa, Old Trafford (D/N)

July 9: Semi-Final 1, Old Trafford

July 11: Semi-Final 2, Edgbaston

July 14: Final, Lord's

For a full list of all World Cup fixtures, click HERE