India gave a strong statement of intent to all the challengers of their T20 World Champions title when they easily dismantled Pakistan in the final warm-up match before the real thing begins. India, led by an excellent batting performance from Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir, reached the target of 159 set by Pakistan with 9 wickets and 3 full overs to spare.

The tie, designated by the ICC as a "Catch the Spirit" match, served as a fundraiser to help support families of the victims of the attack on the Sri Lanka team and officials in Lahore in March. Crowds started

New Zealand kept up their perfect T20 record against India as they beat the World Champions by 9 runs in the first official warm-up game for either side heading into the T20 World Cup in England.

India struggling with injuries and fitness before the tournament, put out a competent eleven to combat a New Zealand side who had already spent a week in England, and had played a couple of practice games against the likes of Bangladesh and Netherlands.

The Kiwis performed well as a batting unit, with Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor both contributing well at the top of the order, and Scott Styris and James Franklin playing useful cameos near the

Former Ireland skipper Trent Johnston held his nerve to help his side secure a dramatic 4 run win in the ‘Super-over eliminator' against The Netherlands at a sun drenched Lord's in their first ICC World Twenty20 warm up match.

After the Irish had struggled to cope with the extra pace of left armer Dirk Nannes, managing to score just 6 runs in the super-over, their cause looked a desperate one. Step forward Trent Johnston, who proved the hero of the hour, restricting Bas Zuiderent to just the one scoring shot, a misfielded two to deep backward square. That fumble proved to be fortunate for Ireland as Zuderent failed to get the next two deliveries away, being brilliantly stumped by Gary Wilson after going wa

The Blackcaps arrived in London today (Saturday) ahead of next week's start to the World Twenty20 tournament - after delivering a solid thrashing to The Netherlands to end their training camp on a high note.

Saturday's game at Wormsley, near Oxford, saw the Blackcaps score 194 for 8, before dismissing The Netherlands in the 20th over for just 104.

Batting first, the New Zealanders took control from the top of the innings, with Brendon McCullum plundering 27 off a hapless Dirk Nannes' first two overs, including five fours and a six.

McCullum and Jesse Ryder put on 46 for the first wicket, and McCullum went on to amass 62, including eight fours and two sixes.

Neil Broom, 28, Scott Styris, 26, and

Bangladesh registered their first win in pre-World Cup warm-up games, comprehensively beating Netherlands by 64 runs at St. Lawrence Ground, Oxfordshire on Thursday.

The main feature of the match was some inspired batting from Bangladesh which saw the team post 206 for 6 including 18 fours and 10 sixes. The Netherlands to their credit didn't fare too bad either and had 14 boundaries and 5 sixes in their innings of 142.

Mohammad Ashraful's 40-ball onslaught that brought 69 runs (11x4) was complimented by a blitz from Mahmud Ullah (56 off 37; 3x4, 4x6) and then Roqibul Hassan (27 not out off 12; 1x4, 3x6) and Mushfiqur Rahim (24 off 8; 3x6).

Ashraful cut the ball fiercely and only took the aerial route when the field was in. Al

A rally by the bowlers ensured a last ball finish but the Tigers are still smarting from the fact that they let slip an opportunity to beat New Zealand in the first of the additional practice matches at Wormsley Cricket Ground on Tuesday.

"It was a good outing in the park for us against some quality players but I think we let ourselves down in the last five overs when only 33 runs came. We had wickets in hand and still about 15-20 runs short," said captain Mohammad Ashraful after the four wicket loss.

Bangladesh, opting to bat, were nicely placed at 87 for 3 after 11 overs but then the runs dried out, especially after the departure of Shakib Al Hasan who made 35 off 27 with some spanking pulls and drives. Ashraful (