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AAP
AAP
Jasper Bruce

Nine-man Australia lose final World Cup warm-up game

Nine-man Australia have suffered a 35-run loss to West Indies in their final warm-up match before the Twenty20 World Cup.

With a number of players still on leave after Indian Premier League duties, Mitch Marsh's side again needed to call on support staff to play as substitute fielders during Thursday's clash in Port of Spain.

The Australians were dealt another blow when allrounder Marcus Stoinis' gear was lost in transit to Trinidad, ruling him out of the match.

Australia won the toss and chose to bowl, going on to reach 7-222 in reply to West Indies' 4-257.

A swashbuckling knock from No.3 Nicholas Pooran (75 off 25 balls) proved the difference between the sides, both rated chances to go deep in the World Cup.

Coach Andrew McDonald was satisfied the loss to West Indies and Wednesday's defeat of Namibia had provided Australia with adequate match practice.

"In terms of this game, it feels as though we got everything that we needed," he said.

"We got some more overs into the bowlers that were coming off a bit of a lay-off, some time into the middle for some key batters. 

"Job done with these two practice games. We've got a few reinforcements arriving in the next few days so it'll be nice to have the whole group together."

Coming off a strong IPL with Lucknow Super Giants, Pooran signalled his intent by clubbing sixes from the first three balls he faced.

Fielding coach Andre Borovec gave Pooran a life to the dismay of Ashton Agar but fellow substitute fielder George Bailey - Australia's chief selector - did not miss with his own chance from Adam Zampa's bowling.

Tim David (1-40) finished as Australia's most economical bowler from his four overs of off-spin, cleaning up Rovman Powell (52) after the West Indies captain reached his half-century.

Agar (28 off 13 balls) was a surprise hit opening the batting for Australia, with captain Marsh (four) shifted to first drop.

A hero in the Gabba Test last summer, Shamar Joseph rattled David Warner's off-stump with an inswinger that broke the opening partnership. The veteran managed only 15 runs.

Wicket-keeper Josh Inglis top scored with 55 runs off 30 balls, including five boundaries and four sixes, before the Australians ran out of numbers and time to chase the 258 runs required.

Australia face Oman in Barbados on June 6 for their first match of the World Cup group stage.

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