Cricket: New Zealand XI nearly stun Australia XI in 2019 Cricket World Cup warm-up

Jimmy Neesham of New Zealand celebrates taking the wicket of Aaron Finch of Australia. Photo / Getty

The New Zealand XI have fallen just short of a stunning comeback victory in their first Cricket World Cup warm-up match against an Australian XI in Brisbane today.

When Australia were sitting at 122-2 in response to New Zealand's 215, they looked to be cruising to victory, but a flurry of wickets saw New Zealand nearly pull off a surprise win.

It would have been an upset for two reasons - not only because of the situation they were in, but also because this New Zealand team only has five members of its World Cup squad playing in it, compared to Australia's full-strength outfit.

Despite the comeback though, a boundary to Adam Zampa gave Australia a tense one-wicket win with 10 balls to spare, with Zampa and Jason Behrendorff putting on 14 for the last wicket to see the hosts home.

Jimmy Neesham of New Zealand celebrates taking the wicket of Aaron Finch of Australia. Photo / Getty

Earlier, World Cup bolter Tom Blundell (77 off 102 balls) and Will Young (60 from 69 balls) were the only two players to pass 15 for the NZ XI. The pair added 137 for the third wicket, having combined at 2-2 after openers George Worker and Henry Nicholls were both dismissed for ducks.

However, once Nathan Coulter-Nile dismissed the pair, there was little other resistance. Tom Latham made just 13 - dismissed by a superb catch from Steve Smith - Jimmy Neesham mustered 15, and Daryl Mitchell was stumped for five in the middle order. Only a late partnership between Todd Astle (15) and Hamish Bennett (11 not out) dragged New Zealand past 200.

When Aaron Finch (52) and David Warner (39) gave Australia a comfortable position after the early loss of opener Usman Khawaja, they looked set for an easy victory, but the hosts tumbled from 122-2 to 164-7 as all the New Zealand bowlers got in on the action.

Matt Henry led the way with 3-40, but Astle (2-32) and Hamish Bennett (1-31) were both extremely economical in their 10 over spells, and Doug Bracewell (1-55 from 10) and Jimmy Neesham (2-56 from 8.2) picked up middle-order wickets.

It wasn't to be though, as Australia's tail-enders narrowly got them home.

The two sides meet again in Brisbane on Wednesday and Friday to continue their World Cup preparations.