In their last warm-up match before the Hadlee-Chappell Series, Australia beat New Zealand by 54 runs in the warm-up Twenty20 international in Perth. Amid the party atmosphere, the Aussie victory came on the back of a brilliant innings by Andrew Symonds, whose unbeaten 85 from just 64 balls won him the Man of the Match award. That innings and the Australian pace attack proved too much for the New Zealand batsmen to handle as they finished on 132 in the 19th over.

After Adam Gilchrist went to a brilliant catch by Jeetan Patel in the second over, Michael Hussey and Michael Clarke kept the scoreboard ticking over until the fielding restrictions were lifted and once Symonds came to the crease a big score was on the cards.

Symonds was ably assisted by partners Adam Voges, who made 26, and Luke Pommersbach, who smashed 15 from just seven deliveries. Pommersbach had intended to watch the game as a paying spectator but was called into the team just hours before the match after Brad Hodge injured himself in the warm-ups.

'One unfortunate Black Caps' fan was dropped into a tank of water every time an Australian batsman hit a six'

Needing a shade over nine runs an over, the Kiwi chase got off to the worst possible start with opener Lou Vincent dismissed off the first ball of the innings. Wickets fell regularly as the New Zealand batsmen struggled with the extra pace and bounce of the WACA pitch, at one stage sitting precariously on 5-31.

All-rounder Jacob Oram steadied the ship with a rapid-fire 66, clearing the boundary six times, but ran out of partners as wickets continued to tumble at the other end. Australian fast bowlers Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson and Shaun Tait all picked up two wickets, while debutant Ashley Noffke claimed three.

The match was played in front of a good sized and good natured crowd who were entertained between overs by performers on stilts, a brass band and one unfortunate Black Caps' fan who was dropped into a tank of water every time an Australian batsman hit a six.