Australia and India kicked off their preparations for the ICC World Twenty20 with warm-up wins over New Zealand and Sri Lanka respectively.

George Bailey's Australia rode on the back a brilliant all-round display from Shane Watson to beat the Black Caps by 56 runs in Colombo.

Watson opened the innings and top-scored with 27 while there were also contributions from Matthew Wade (25), David Warner (24) and Glenn Maxwell (24) as they made 139 for six.

Watson then returned bowling figures of two for seven in three overs while spinner Brad Hogg picked up three wickets as the Kiwis slumped to 83 all out in just 17 overs.

Over at the P Sara Oval India claimed a 26-run victory over hosts Sri Lanka with captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni leading the way.

Dhoni hit an unbeaten 55 from 42 balls while Rohit Sharma chipped in with 37 to take their total to 146 for five.

Irfan Pathan then ripped the heart out of the Sri Lankan batting line-up with five for 25 as the hosts were bowled out for 120 in 19.3 overs.

Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe by five wickets at the Colts Cricket Club Ground thanks to Mohammad Ashraful's 38 off 25 deliveries.

Set 135 for victory after Vusi Shibanda top-scored for Zimbabwe with a slowish 40 from 47 balls, Ashraful, Shakib Al Hasan (28), Ziaur Rahman (26) and Mahmudullah (23) all contributed to reach their target in 19.2 overs.

Mohammad Nabi hit a blistering 51 from 24 balls, including five sixes, while Asghar Stanikzai smashed 50 off 39 balls as Afghanistan eased to a 51-run win over Sri Lanka A.

The middle-order duo's half-centuries propelled the Afghans to 209 for seven and the bowlers then reduced Sri Lanka A to 158 all out with Kosala Kulesekara's 63 from 38 balls in vain.

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