Brisbane: Steve Smith plundered an unbeaten 91 and Glenn Maxwell hit 70 on Friday before bad light stopped play, with Australia winning their final warm-up game at home before leaving for England to defend their World Cup title. They were handed victory by five wickets courtesy of the DW method after amassing 248 for five off 44 overs in reply to an under-strength New Zealand’s 286 for nine from 50 overs.
It was another fine knock from former skipper Smith, batting at three, who made his return to Australian colours this week from a year-long ban for ball-tampering. For New Zealand, the unheralded Will Young smashed his second century in a row, mastering a top-notch Australian attack led by Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc. He eventually fell to Marcus Stoinis for 111.
