CAPE TOWN, Sept 9: World one-day champions Australia survived an early wobble to beat New Zealand on the first day of official warm-up matches ahead of the Twenty20 World Championship on Saturday.

Chasing a formidable target of 182-8 in Benoni, Australia lost both Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist for ducks in the first over bowled by Shane Bond while Brad Hodge went for eight in the second over to leave the innings in disarray at 15-3.

But Andrew Symonds (70) and Mike Hussey (72) led an Australian fight back with a fourth wicket stand of 113 including a combined 14 fours and six sixes which helped win the game by four wickets with 10 balls to spare.

Earlier Craig McMillan smashed 60 from only 29 balls with five fours and four sixes while Ross Taylor made 53 from 39 deliveries. Australian spinner Brad Hogg suffered more than most bowling three overs at a cost of 51 runs.

Hosts South Africa lost to World Cup finalists Sri Lanka by five wickets with seven balls to spare in Potchefstroom.

Captain Graeme Smith led the way with 46 from 35 balls while big-hitting Justin Kemp launched a trio of sixes in an innings of 32 but the total of 161-9 always looked modest.

Veteran opener Sanath Jayasuriya belted 46 from 34 balls as Sri Lanka coasted to a comfortable victory.

Saturday’s results :

At Benoni: Australia beat New Zealand by four wickets.

NEW ZEALAND 182-8 in 20 overs (R.L. Taylor 53, C.D. McMillan 60; B.W. Hilfenhaus 3-11); AUSTRALIA 187-6 in 18.2 overs (A. Symonds 70, M.E.K. Hussey 72; S.E. Bond 3-26).

At Centurion: Bangladesh beat Scotland by six wickets.

SSCOTLAND 145-8 in 20 overs (N. Poonia 54; Abdur Razzak 2-6, Mashrafe Mortaza 2-42, Saqibul Hasan 2-28); BANGLADESH 148-4 in 16 overs (Mohammad Nazimuddin 74, Aftab Ahmed 22).

At Potchefstroom: Sri Lanka beat South Africa by five wickets.

SOUTH AFRICA 161-9 (G.C. Smith 46, J.M. Kemp 32, J.A. Morkel 28 not out; M.F. Maharoof 3-31); SRI LANKA 162-5 in 18.5 overs (S.T. Jayasuriya 46, D.P.M.D. Jayawardene 37 not out; T. Tshabalala 2-26).—Agencies