Josh Hazlewood's stellar new-ball spell helped nine-man Australia secure a seven-wicket victory over Namibia in their opening T20 World Cup warm-up match. Hazlewood started with three consecutive maidens, finishing with remarkable figures of 3-3-0-2. David Warner, rebounding from an injury-hit IPL season, smashed an unbeaten 54 off 21 balls, leading Australia to chase down Namibia's 119 with ease.Australia, short on players due to IPL commitments, fielded four support staff members, including head coach Andrew McDonald, selector George Bailey, and assistants Brad Hodge and Andre Borovec. Despite the unusual lineup, Australia performed strongly, with Hazlewood and Adam Zampa (3-25) dominating Namibia's batting.Warner, set to retire from international cricket after the tournament, quickly found form, helping Australia reach their target in just 10 overs. Captain Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis also contributed, ensuring a smooth chase.
Australia will face the West Indies in their second warm-up game on Thursday, aiming to further fine-tune their preparations for the T20 World Cup. For more sports news and updates, follow Spinmatch.