Aussies to stay aggressive for World T20

Australia’s early onslaught in their World Twenty20 warm-up victory over New Zealand is only a taste of things to come, says coach Darren Lehmann.

Opening batsmen David Warner and Aaron Finch smashed 113 off just eight overs in Fatullah, Bangladesh on Wednesday, with Warner blasting 65 from 26 balls and Finch 47 from 22 before both retired.

The Australians reached 7-200 and restricted the Black Caps to 9-197, which was built on blistering knocks from opener Martin Guptill’s 62 from 34 balls and captain Brendon McCullum’s 37 from 18.

Needing just 17 off the last two overs, a late collapse scuppered New Zealand’s hopes as they lost four cheap wickets.

Seamer Nathan Coulter-Nile took 2-5 in the last over, dismissing Jimmy Neesham and Anton Devcich cheaply before tying down Ronnie Hira and Kyle Mills.

Coulter-Nile and Mitchell Starc were the pick of the Australian attack, snaring two wickets each on a good batting surface.

“It was a good quality game … and high scoring, which is pleasing for both sides,” said Lehmann.

“I think both sides will be working on their bowling – we certainly will be working on our bowling in the middle stage of the innings.

“But at the end of the day it was a great hitout for both of the teams.”

Lehmann predicted plenty of high scores from most teams when the tournament proper begins, and said Australia would be no exception.

“I think you’ve seen the way we want to play,” he said.

“From our point of view, we’re going to be quite aggressive in everything we do.

“It’s been working of late, but again it’s a different story for the World Cup. It’s going to be a great contest.”

While the side’s pace attack has taken a hit with the withdrawal of injured Mitchell Johnson, Lehmann has every confidence in his replacement Doug Bollinger ahead of Sunday’s opening clash with Pakistan in Dhaka.

But the coach said it may be his spin bowlers who have to step up in the tournament’s later stages as the wicket slows up.

“We’ve got the squad that can go the distance. At the end of the day, you’ve got to win a lot of games early,” he said.

The trans-Tasman rivals played a five-over practice match after Wednesday’s hit-out, which Australia also won, chasing down New Zealand’s score of 29 in three overs.

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