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Australia succumb to warm-up defeat

Hazlewood's hat-trick and 60 from Watson no answer to Sammy's match-winning fifty

Aaron Finch looks set to partner Shane Watson at the top of the order after a solid performance in Australia's three-wicket World T20 warm-up loss against the West Indies in Kolkata.

WATCH: Hazlewood stakes claim with hat-trick

Finch made 33 off 24 balls opening the batting alongside Watson at Eden Gardens, posting a 76-run first-wicket stand with the allrounder before he was caught in the deep off the bowling of Sulieman Benn.

Quick Single: Umpire Oxenford introduces the 'shield'

The Victorian is in a two horse race with Usman Khawaja to open the innings, but given he walked out with Watson at the top of the order on Sunday, and Khawaja's entry at No.4 - presently seen as David Warner's poisition in the T20 format - Finch is now the clear favourite to face the new ball against New Zealand in Australia's opening World T20 clash against New Zealand on Friday.

Quick Single: Hazlewood snares hat-trick in WT20 warm-up

A Josh Hazlewood hat-trick wrecked the Windies top-order, but late cameos from Darren Sammy (50no off 28 balls) and Carlos Brathwaite (33 off 14) helped the Windies chase down 162 with one ball to spare.

If Finch does open the innings he'll partner an in-form Watson after the allrounder made a 39-ball 60 featuring four fours and as many sixes.

With both teams wanting to bat, Australia skipper Steve Smith won an unofficial toss and got first use of the dry wicket in front of a swelling crowd.

Umpire Bruce Oxenford raised eyebrows when he walked out to the middle wearing a protective shield – the latest innovation in umpire safety equipment.

And he might have needed it as the Australians attacked the new ball, taking 54 off the first six Powerplay overs.

Spin claimed the first wicket – Finch – as Benn had two more victims – Glenn Maxwell (0) and Mitchell Marsh (2) – inside four deliveries in an otherwise expensive afternoon for the colossal tweaker.

Watson powered past fifty, but his wicket caused a mini-collapse of 4-11.

Smith held the innings together from No.3, scoring 36 from 29 balls with just the one boundary, and was out in the final over looking to be funky with a reverse sweep as Australia posted 9-161.

Hazlewood, in the absence of the rested Nathan Coulter-Nile, spearheaded the attack and put his hand up for a World T20 berth with a hat-trick in the fourth over of the run chase.

The right-armer trapped Jason Holder before hitting the stumps twice to dismiss Marlon Samuels and Dwayne Bravo to complete the rare feat.

Smith brought himself on for the eighth over, and while it went for 11 runs, the captain captured the wicket of Johnson Charles.

The West Indies looked beat at 6-72 in the 12th over, but that's when Brathwaite went the long handle to revive the run chase.

He launched two sixes in his whirlwind knock, and when he was caught by Maxwell coming off the rope, it was Sammy's turn to dish out the punishment.

The allrounder's match-winning 50no included six fours and a straight six off Watson as the Windies clawed their way back into the match to be favourites heading into the final over, needing five to secure the win.

Andrew Tye, who had gone for 31 off his first two overs, was gallant in the final over, hitting his yorkers as the pressure mounted.

But with two needed, the penultimate ball went was whipped to midwicket by Sammy to seal the victory.

Australia: Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja, Shane Watson, Steve Smith (c), Glenn Maxwell, Mitch Marsh, Peter Nevill, John Hastings, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood, Andrew Tye. 

West Indies: Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Marlon Samuels, Andre Russell, Chris Gayle, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Sammy (c), Denesh Ramdin, Jerome Taylor, Sulieman Benn, Ashley Nurse, Samuel Badree, Dwayne Bravo, Jason Holder.