ODI World Cup.

[K]

[Pies4shaw]

3/156 after 30 overs. Finch not many, Warner 43 from 55, Marsh 30 from 44, Smith 44* and Khawaja 16*. They're not batting with any particular urgency, just having a hit out, really - Stoinis and Carey to come (Maxy is taking in the view from the grandstand, today).

[Pies4shaw]

Australia is plainly just trying to get some time batting in English conditions.

Smith 81* from 80. Stoinis was just run out for 13, ball-watching as Smith ran to the danger end back for the 2nd. Khawaja made 31 from 38. 5/224 after 43.

[Pies4shaw]

Australia 7/297 from their 50. Smith 116 from 102 and Carey 30 from 14.

Meanwhile, NZ have bowled out India for 179 in their warm up game.

[Donny]

1/59 after 11 overs.

Bairstow out to Behrendorff for 12.

[K]

Do these warm-up matches have any official status?

[K]

In reply to 9/297, England 7/274 (47).
24 runs required from 3 overs.

[K]

England 8/283 (49).
RRR 15.

[K]

9/283 (49.1)...
... becomes 10/285 (49.3).

[ronrat]

[Pies4shaw]

Maxy stopped watching from the cheap seats for just long enough to ruin a good game with his fielding at the end, there. A nice little catch and then a brilliant throw to run out Archer. So, Behrendorff 2/43 from 8, Richardson 2/51 from 9, Lyon 1/37 from 10, Stoinis 1/31 from 6.3, Coulter-Nile 1/61 from 10, Zampa 1/54 from 10.

A good solid hitout for Australia, really designed to let them have a look at Maxwell's batting back up (no, there isn't any) and the bowlers competing for places in the "best 11". Behrendorff and Richardson looked the best of the quicker bowlers and Lyon and Stoinis both proved difficult to get away. Coulter-Nile would want to do a great deal better in his next outing (if he gets a next outing). In his after-match interview, Finch said it would have been good if Australia could catch and that the fielding was sloppy. He singled out Lyon's spell for praise and was also very positive about Behrendorff's spell when asked, was generally happy with the batting and bowling and wasn't asked any embarrassing questions about how how long it will be until the Former Captain is doing the post-match interviews again. The only thing low-key about Smith's batting was that there wasn't a man of the match award.

[Donny]

Stoinis was excellent at the death.

The best XI looks to be:

One more warm-up match before the real thing.

Warner
Finch
Smith
Khawaja/Marsh
Maxwell
Stoinis
Carey
Cummins
Starc
Zampa/Lyon (Both could possibly play in 1 or 2 matches. In which case, the 3 below would miss out)
Richardson/Behrendorff/C-Nile

[K]

[K]

[K]

cricinfo report that Finch fell (in the warm-up game against Sri Lanka) in the standard way:

"Pradeep seams one into Finch's front pad for an lbw appeal that Dimuth takes up for a decision review. It's crashing into middle and leg and Finch goes, more or less in the way most teams will be planning to get him during the World Cup."