Khawaja stars in big warm-up victory

Australia completed their World Cup preparations with their third practice match win on the trot on the back of an assured 89 from Usman Khawaja in Southampton.

Back in his favoured opening role, Khawaja recovered from a blow to the knee that earlier saw him limp from the field as the Aussies cruised to a five-wicket win over Sri Lanka at the Rose Bowl on Monday.

The left-hander did his chances of securing his spot for Australia's World Cup opener against Afghanistan on Saturday no harm, anchoring the chase and rotating the strike expertly as he scored just three boundaries in his 105-ball knock.

Khawaja copped a ball to the knee cap in an awkward fielding mishap during the 32nd over of Sri Lanka's innings, but was cleared to take his place at the top of the order.

His late exit, given out stumped after a lengthy review by third umpire S Ravi, was somewhat contentious, though Australia, needing just 22 more to win from the last 10 overs, had all but sealed the match by that point.

Incumbent ODI No.3 Shaun Marsh threw away a chance to push his own case for selection when he was caught on the long-on boundary for 34 from 46 balls following an 80-run stand with Khawaja.

Allrounders Glenn Maxwell (36 off 36) and Marcus Stoinis (32 off 30) also failed to go on with starts, with both caught on the boundary as well.

Opener David Warner sat out the match as a precaution due to leg soreness, while Steve Smith didn’t bat (though he did have a hit in the nets in full kit) having scored four consecutive totals above 75 in the lead-in to Australia’s final Cup tune-up.

Image Id: 292147474FC94696976BAA2BFCFCCA8F Image Caption: Steve Smith didn't bat, but he did pick up a wicket // Getty

Sri Lanka, missing recently deposed captain Lasith Malinga, reached 8-239 but it was never likely to be enough as Australia feasted on some ordinary bowling to run down the target in the 45th over.

Alex Carey (14 not out off 25) and Pat Cummins (9 not out off 11) steered the Aussies home.

Australia head into their first match of the tournament proper in strong form, having also won warm-up games against West Indies and tournament favourites England since arriving in the United Kingdom a week and a half ago.

Mitchell Starc (1-38 off nine overs), having been being rested for Saturday's game against England, ruffled feathers in his return after Sri Lanka skipper Dimuth Karunaratne won the toss and batted.

The left-armer topped the 150kph mark in a hostile opening spell, before coming back later to hit Jeevan Mendis flush on the helmet and then a ducking Thisara Perera on the arm guard.

Sri Lanka reached 8-239 from their 50 overs thanks to an obdurate half-century from Lahiru Thirimanne (56 off 69 balls) and a spirited counter-attack from Dhananjaya de Silva (43 off 41).

Image Id: 3412DEFB507743469F52BFE33168849A Image Caption: Mitchell Starc was bowling heat in his return // Getty

Kane Richardson admitted his side’s fielding was a tad "sloppy" against England on Saturday and the Aussies this time missed a pair of early run-out opportunities.

Pat Cummins had more time than he realised when he missed the stumps after Dimuth Karunaratne, on nine, hit one straight back him and set off for a suicidal single.

Wicketkeeper Alex Carey then also failed to hit the woodwork from point blank range when a similar chance was presented by Kusal Perera.

Cummins was Australia’s most economical bowler, collecting 1-23 from eight overs, while in-form man Smith, fresh off a century against England, continued his strong start to the tour in claiming a sharp return catch to remove dangerman Angelo Mathews for 17.

Thirimanne held up the Sri Lankans, scoring seven boundaries before being bowled by a straight ball from Nathan Lyon (1-48) for 56 from 69 balls, before De Silva shared in a 64-run seventh-wicket stand with Thisara Perera (27 off 33).

Skipper Aaron Finch (11 off 16) departed in the fourth over of Australia's reply following a successful lbw review by Sri Lanka, but Khawaja found enough support in Marsh, Maxwell and then Stoinis. 

Sri Lanka's lacklustre showing was compounded when a no-ball was called because they had one too many fielders outside the 30-yard circle.

Kusal Mendis nearly took an absolute hanger at mid-wicket with Khawaja on 86, and while the Lankans got their consolation wicket when Jeffrey Vandersay deceived him two overs later, Australian victory was already in sight.

Australia XII: Aaron Finch (c), Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Kane Richardson, Nathan Lyon, Adam Zampa

Sri Lanka XV: Kusal Perera, Diumth Karunaratne, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Jeevan Mendis, Milinda Siriwardana, Thisara Perera, Jefrey Vandersay, Suranga Lakmal, Isuru Udana, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Pradeep, Avishka Fernando

2019 World Cup

Australia's squad: Aaron Finch (c), Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

May 22: (warm-up) Australia beat West Indies by seven wickets

May 25: (warm-up) Australia beat England by 12 runs

May 27: (warm-up) Australia beat Sri Lanka by five wickets

June 1: Afghanistan v Australia, Bristol (D/N)

June 6: Australia v West Indies, Trent Bridge

June 9: India v Australia, The Oval

June 12: Australia v Pakistan, Taunton

June 15: Sri Lanka v Australia, The Oval

June 20: Australia v Bangladesh, Trent Bridge

June 25: England v Australia, Lord's

June 29: New Zealand v Australia, Lord's (D/N)

July 6: Australia v South Africa, Old Trafford (D/N)

July 9: Semi-Final 1, Old Trafford

July 11: Semi-Final 2, Edgbaston

July 14: Final, Lord's

For a full list of all World Cup fixtures, click HERE