Australia beat England in Cricket World Cup warm‑up

England fell to a 12‑run defeat to Australia in a thrilling International Cricket World Cup warm‑up match in Southampton after Steve Smith's first century since being banned for his part in the ball‑tampering scandal.

Smith hit 116 off 102 balls in an impressively composed innings to steer his side to 297‑9.

England, who also sustained a series of injury worries, face Afghanistan in another warm‑up on Tuesday before facing South Africa in Friday's World Cup opener.

Defending champions Australia begin their campaign against Afghanistan on Sunday after a warm‑up match against Sri Lanka on Tuesday.

The 2019 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup will begin next Friday till the 14th of July.

[Source:BBC]

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