Michael Hussey stroked a brilliant unbeaten 72 as Australia beat neighbours New Zealand by four wickets in their first warm-up match of the ICC World Twenty20 at Willowmoore Park in Benoni yesterday.

Pakistan and West Indies were the other winners on the opening day of practice matches when Bangladesh also beat Scotland by six wickets. In the last match of the day, Sri Lanka beat hosts South Africa by five wickets, making sure that only Pakistan won after they batted first as the rest chased successfully.

After the Black Caps piled 182-8 in 20 overs, Hussey and Andrew Symonds made sure of the victory after the Australians lost their toporder in the space of 10 balls. Speedster Shane Bond took three wickets for 26. Hussey struck four sixes while Symonds hit two during their rescue act with a 113-run fifth wicket stand in only 72 balls. Bond removed openers Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden for ducks. Hussey ended the game scoring 72 off 44 balls while Symonds scored his 70 off 43 balls.

Craig McMillan (60) and youngster Ross Taylor (53) earlier took care of New Zealand's batting.

Seamer Ben Hilfenhaus took three for 11.

In the day's earlier match in the same venue, a whirlwind 63 off 30 balls from Marlon Samuels led West Indies to a comfortable six-wicket victory against Kenya. Chasing 156, Shivnarine Chanderpaul remained unbeaten on 46 off 33 balls as West Indies reached the target with 2.3 overs to spare.

Samuels smashed three fours and six sixes during a 105-run stand for the third wicket with Chanderpaul after they had lost

their first two wickets with the score on 38.

Earlier, the West Indian bowlers had backed up Ramnaresh Sarwan's decision to field by restricting Kenya to 155 for 5 in 20 overs. Kenya had lost David Obuya early but were on course for a sizable total after Maurice Ouma and Tanmay Mishra, who top-scored with 43, took them to 70 after 9.3 overs with eight wickets in hand.

Sri Lanka rode on contributions from Sanath Jayasuriya (46) and captain Mahela Jayawardene (39*) as they outplayed the hosts at Sedgars Park in Potchefstroom with 7 balls to spare as they chased 160-run target.

Jayawardene's opposite number Greame Smith (46) could not take the total past the 180-mark. Farveez Maharoof took 3-31 from his four overs.

At Centurion, an outstanding spell from Umar Gul, taking 3 for 11 off four overs, spurred Pakistan to a 54-run win against Zimbabwe. Shahid Afridi also scalped 3 for 17 as Zimbabwe were restricted to 127 for 8 in 20 overs, chasing Pakistan's 181.

Gul rocked Zimbabwe's chase by dismissing Vusi Sibanda and Chamu Chibhabha off successive deliveries with the score on 16. Zimbabwe went on to lose six wickets for 35 runs and their chase went off the rails.

Pakistan had also got off to a poor start, losing their first three wickets for 61 before Shoaib Malik ran amok, scoring 64 off 37 balls. He hit four sixes and three fours and added 50 for the fourth wicket with Younis Khan. Malik dominated the innings towards the final overs and remained unbeaten as Pakistan stacked up 181 for 6.