Sri Lanka came close to suffering surprise defeat in their opening warm-up match for the World Twenty20 before securing a four-wicket victory over Bangladesh.

Chasing Bangladesh’s disappointing total of 151 for six, Sri Lanka looked set to underline their credentials as potential winners when they raced to 112 for three in 13 overs.

But their innings lost all momentum between the 13th and 17th overs, during which period they added only five runs and lost two wickets, and it needed a wide with two balls remaining of the final over to clinch their triumph.

Having rested two of the key members of their line-up – prolific spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and strike bowler Lasith Malinga – Sri Lanka still dominated Bangladesh throughout their innings despite using eight different bowlers.

It took a determined 70-run partnership off 55 balls between Mushfiqur Rahmim and Raqibul Hasan to ensure Bangladesh even reached a respectable total in their second match in two days at Trent Bridge.

Meanwhile, captain Ricky Ponting guided Australia to a seven-wicket victory over New Zealand in their World Twenty20 warm-up at the Brit Oval.

Ponting hit 56, initially instigating an Australian recovery after the loss of two early wickets disrupted their progress.

James Franklin’s double-wicket maiden in the fifth over evened up the contest after New Zealand were dismissed for 147.

But Ponting, whose half-century came from only 34 deliveries, combined with vice-captain Michael Clarke in a match-turning century stand.

Although Australia left themselves to score 88 off the final 10 overs, they paced the chase perfectly from that point with Ponting’s six over long-off just after the halfway stage of the innings altering the momentum in his side’s favou

Sri Lanka came close to suffering surprise defeat in their opening warm-up match for the World Twenty20 before securing a four-wicket victory over Bangladesh.

Chasing Bangladesh’s disappointing total of 151 for six, Sri Lanka looked set to underline their credentials as potential winners when they raced to 112 for three in 13 overs.

But their innings lost all momentum between the 13th and 17th overs, during which period they added only five runs and lost two wickets, and it needed a wide with two balls remaining of the final over to clinch their triumph.

Having rested two of the key members of their line-up – prolific spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and strike bowler Lasith Malinga – Sri Lanka still dominated Bangladesh throughout their innings despite using eight different bowlers.

It took a determined 70-run partnership off 55 balls between Mushfiqur Rahmim and Raqibul Hasan to ensure Bangladesh even reached a respectable total in their second match in two days at Trent Bridge.

Meanwhile, captain Ricky Ponting guided Australia to a seven-wicket victory over New Zealand in their World Twenty20 warm-up at the Brit Oval.

Ponting hit 56, initially instigating an Australian recovery after the loss of two early wickets disrupted their progress.

James Franklin’s double-wicket maiden in the fifth over evened up the contest after New Zealand were dismissed for 147.

But Ponting, whose half-century came from only 34 deliveries, combined with vice-captain Michael Clarke in a match-turning century stand.

Although Australia left themselves to score 88 off the final 10 overs, they paced the chase perfectly from that point with Ponting’s six over long-off just after the halfway stage of the innings altering the momentum in his side’s favou