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Johnson keeps Kiwis in check

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Mitchell Johnson (Gallo)
Mitchell Johnson (Gallo)

London - Mitchell Johnson took four wickets as Australia restricted New Zealand to 147 all out in their ICC World Twenty20 warm-up match at the Oval on Tuesday.

New Zealand lost openers Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder for a duck apiece and collapsed to 21 for five inside six overs before a stand of 71 between Scott Styris (42) and Peter McGlashan (49) revived the innings.

Johnson though finished with fine figures of four for 20 from four overs.

Australia made an ideal start after New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori won the toss at a sun-drenched Oval

Fast bowler Brett Lee had the dangerous McCullum caught behind after the batsman chased a wide ball while Ryder was out to left-arm quick Johnson's second ball, caught at long leg by Peter Siddle off a hook.

The Black Caps then slumped to six for three when Martin Guptill, one ball after cover-driving Johnson for four, chipped him to Nathan Hauritz at mid-on.

Taylor though restored Kiwi morale with a cover-drive four off a Siddle no-ball. He then took advantage of the ensuing free hit with a four down to fine leg and then made it three boundaries in as many bulls with a pull.

But Siddle, like Lee and Johnson, struck in his first over when, two balls later, Taylor mistimed a drive to Australia captain Ricky Ponting at mid-off and was out for 14.

Things got even worse for New Zealand when 21 for four became 21 for five after all-rounder Jacob Oram was run out without facing a ball following good work by Johnson.

However, the experienced Scott Styris counter-attacked by lofting Siddle for a superb straight six into the Pavilion and next ball giving himself room to drive the seamer for four, a boundary that brought up New Zealand's fifty.

McGlashan then got in on the act by pulling Siddle for six.

But the stand was broken when Brisbane-born Stryris, like McCullum before him, chased a delivery which would have been called wide and was caught by wicket-keeper Brad Haddin, off Johnson.

His 42 had come in 28 balls with two sixes and six fours.

McGlashan kept the momentum going with two reverse swept four off Hauritz before falling to the off-spinner one short of his fifty when he holed out to David Hussey at long-off having faced 35 balls with a six and six fours.

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