Australia hit record Twenty20 score

Australia warmed up for the tri-series of one-day games against England and New Zealand by hitting England’s bowlers to all parts of the ground, blasting 14 sixes.

Gilchrist’s 29-ball innings of 48 included five sixes and two fours, and at one stage the free-hitting wicketkeeper-batsman smashed England medium-pacer James Anderson for three consecutive sixes in the sixth over.

Ponting smashed a brisk 47 before a sell-out crowd of 35,628.

White and Andrew Symonds (39 not out) shared an unbroken stand of 66 in less than six overs for the sixth wicket.

Sorry England

England had a disastrous start to their run chase with Ed Joyce (1) and sacked skipper Andrew Flintoff (0) falling in the first eight balls.

Australian paceman Shane Harwood made the most of his chance at international level, having Flintoff caught at square leg then throwing the stumps down from the third-man boundary to run out Kevin Pietersen for six.

It completed a poor game for Pietersen, who failed to run in to attempt a high catch and then dropped a simple chance in the final over of Australia’s innings.

Michael Vaughan, England’s captain, who missed the Test series with a knee injury, was left to rescue the innings but was lbw to Symonds for 27 at 54 for four.

Scalps

Jamie Dalrymple with 32 and Paul Nixon’s unbeaten 31 added an element of respectability to the innings.

Australia were without injured paceman Brett Lee (chest infection) and Mitchell Johnson (minor abdominal strain) and both will be assessed before Friday’s one-day series opener against England in Melbourne.

Australian pace-bowling newcomer Ben Hilfenhaus picked up 2-16 including the scalps of Ian Bell for 22 and Paul Collingwood for five in a fine international debut as veteran Glenn McGrath was rested from the match.