Zimbabwe yet again proved to be Australia's Achilles' heel in the shortest format of cricket as they notched up a shocking one-run win in a warm-up game at St Lucia on Tuesday.
In a repeat of the Twenty20 World Cup victory over Australia at Cape Town in 2007, the win provides Prosper Utseya's side with a massive boost ahead of the tournament.
Elton Chigumbura hit a blitzy 76 off just 33 balls to help his side reach 173 for seven off 20 overs. He hit five fours and six sixes and shared a 114-run paertnership with Craig Ervine (39) for the fifth wicket.
Australia responded in style as David Warner cracked a fine 72, and skipper Michael Clarke hit 49 before three late run outs saw them finish at 172 for seven, just one agonising run short of the Zimbabwe total.
Australia next play a warm-up match against local side Windward XI and will seek to fine-tune their game ahead of their opening Group A match against world champions Pakistan on Sunday.
Bangaldesh, NZ start with wins :
Bangladesh and New Zealand notched up comfortable wins in their warm-up games ahead of the start of the Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean on Friday.
Jesse Ryder smacked 64 off just 30 balls, including five sixes, to help New Zealand post 187 for five against Ireland in their warm-up game in Guyana. In reply, Ireland managed to score 147 for nine, losing the match by 40 runs.
In the second game of the day, Bangaldesh beat Barbados XI by 36 runs. Imrul Kayes hit 57 to help his side post 166 for five.
In reply, Ryan Hinds scored a half-century for the local side, who finished at 130 for three.
Bangladesh are in Group A along with T20 world champions Pakistan and Australia. They play their opening game against Pakistan in St Lucia on Saturday.
New Zealand have been clubbed with Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in Group B and will play the opening game of the tournament against the Lankan lions on Friday.
Pak warm up with solid win :
Twenty20 world champions Pakistan got their campaign off to a winning start as they notched up an easy 68-run win over local side Windward XI on Tuesday.
Batting first, Pakistan scored 160 for the loss of seven wickets off 20 overs with Mohammad Hafeez top scoring with 57 off 40 deliveries.
In reply, Windward XI only managed to score 92 for four in 20 overs with all the Pakistani bowlers bowling a tight line, even though they did give away 11 runs in wides.
Pakistan pacer Mohammad Aamer returned figures of one for 13 from his four overs.
Pakistan will play their second practice match against Zimbabwe on Thursday. They take on Bangladesh in their opening Group A game on Saturday.
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