Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell played solid knocks of 91* and 70 respectively on Friday (May 10) before a bad-light stoppage to ensure an Australian victory over New Zealand XI in the final warm-up tie. 

The home team won by five wickets courtesy DLS method at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane after reaching 248/5 off 44 overs, in response to Kiwis' first innings score of 286/9 in the allotted 50 overs.

Smith's knock was a magnificent follow-up act to its 89-run effort in the previous warm-up game on Wednesday (May 8). This means the former skipper, who has just returned to the national set-up having completed his 12-month ban after the ball-tampering incident, will head very well prepared towards the World Cup this summer in UK. 

However, David Warner, despite arriving into this series of practice matches on the back of an outstanding IPL season with Sunrisers Hyderabad, failed again at the top of the order, making just two to follow his duck and 39 in the last two games. 

Usman Khawaja (23) and Shaun Marsh (40) also spent some good time in the middle. 

Earlier, New Zealand XI rallied its way to a strong total on the back of opener George Worker's 59 and Will Young's 111. Australian pacers Mitchell Starc (1/35), Pat Cummins (4/32) and Nathan Coulter-Nile (0/42) and all-rounder Marcus Stoinis (2/54) enjoyed a fruitful outing with the ball. 

The Australia XI won the three-match series against New Zealand XI, 2-1. The 15-man Australian World Cup squad will now travel to England and Wales after the completion of the ongoing training camp. 

Australia plays hosts England and Sri Lanka in its two official World Cup warm-up games in Southampton on May 25 and 27 respectively. The defending champion side opens its World Cup campaign on June 1 in Bristol against Afghanistan. 

(Inputs from AFP)