Zimbabwe stun defending champs Pakistan

After stunning Australia in their first warm-up match by registering a sensational one-run victory, 'minnows' Zimbabwe trounced defending champions Pakistan by 12 runs in their second practice match ahead of the T20 World Championship.

Zimbabwe were struggling for 64 for 5 in the 12th over, but Elton Chigumbura's exciting knock of 49 not out from just 35 balls saw the Africans post a respectable total of 143 for 7 in their allotted 20 overs.

In reply, Pakistan started on a positive note, wicket keeper Kamran Akmal hitting a blistering 37 from 27 balls, but wickets kept falling at the opposite end, reducing the defending T20 World champions to 67 for 5 after 10 overs.

Pakistan's hopes were revived through some sensible batting by middle order batsmen Fawad Alam and Misbah-ul-Haq, who added 51 in 7.4 over for the sixth wicket, but pacer Prosper Utseya dismissed both the set batsmen in space of three deliveries.

Utseya returned with a match winning figures of 4 for 15 in his quota of four overs.

Chigumbura did well with the ball too, taking 3 for 16 in three overs as his team registered their second consecutive win in the warm-up matches.

Morgan helps England beat South Africa

England batsman Eoin Morgan steered the Three Lions to a five-wicket win over South Africa in their final warm-up game.

Morgan scored 63 from 62 balls, as England recovered from nine for three to chase down the target of 126 with three balls to spare.

The left-hander came to the crease with the team in trouble, as Michael Lumb (four) and Kevin Pietersen (0) had fallen in the first over to Rory Kleinveldt before Craig Kieswetter (five) was dismissed by Morne Morkel.

Morgan also shared a crucial 71-run stand with skipper Paul Collingwood, who scored 22 off 26 balls.

Earlier, South Africa chose to bat first, but were restricted to 125 for five by some excellently tight new-ball bowling from Ryan Sidebottom and Tim Bresnan.

The bowling saw Graeme Smith, normally the most robust of players, require 13 deliveries to open his account, while Loots Bosman (10) and Herschelle Gibbs (one) both went cheaply.

J P Duminy (30 not out) and Albie Morkel (32 not out) applied some late impetus, as the Proteas hauled their total from 66 for 5 in the 15th over to their eventual score.

England spinner Michael Yardy was again the pick of the bowlers, finishing with two for 25 in his four overs.

Warner blasts second straight fifty

Opener David Warner scored his second successive half-century to guide Australia to a thumping 101-run victory over Windward Islands in their final warm-up match.

The Australian side batted first upon agreement, and Tim Paine, Daniel Christian and Nathan Hauritz played for Windward Islands -- presumably to make a game of it.

Warner scored 51 from 41 deliveries in Australia's score of 189 for eight. He struck five fours and two sixes and dominated an opening stand of 57 with Shane Watson (17), the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Windward Islands replied with 88 all out, as fast bowler Shaun Tait (2-19) and spinner Steve Smith (2-15) grabbed two wickets apiece.

The Australian score was also bolstered by Twenty20 specialist David Hussey's quickfire 49 and skipper Michael Clarke's 30 from 23 balls.

Warner goes into Australia's Group A clash with Pakistan on Sunday in top form after blasting 72 from 49 balls in Tuesday's one-run loss to Zimbabwe.