World Cup warm-up: England ease past West Indies in Sydney

Chris Woakes (centre) took two wickets in successive balls in the first over

England beat a lacklustre West Indies side by nine wickets in their first World Cup warm-up match at Sydney.

West Indies won the toss but lost both Chris Gayle and Darren Bravo first ball in Chris Woakes's opening over to leave them 1-2, and they struggled to 35-4.

Lendl Simmons (45) top scored but only three of his team-mates reached double figures as they were skittled for 122 with seamer Woakes claiming 5-19.

Moeen Ali hit 46 as England cruised to victory with 27.1 overs to spare.

Although England took the opportunity to rest front-line pacemen James Anderson and Stuart Broad, their remaining bowlers found easy pickings against a disappointing Windies batting line-up.

After Woakes combined with keeper Jos Buttler to remove Gayle and Bravo off successive deliveries, Marlon Samuels came within a whisker of edging the hat-trick ball - although the unofficial nature of these warm-up matches, with all 15 World Cup squad players able to take part, would have denied him a one-day international hat-trick.

With only a small sprinkling of fans within the Sydney Cricket Ground, the atmosphere remained subdued as the West Indian shot selection left something to be desired all afternoon.

Dwayne Smith edged Woakes to second slip, while Samuels and Denesh Ramdin were both bowled playing down the wrong line, with only Simmons able to hold up an end.

Off-spinner James Tredwell, having carried the drinks for last month's one-day tri-series, bowled Jonathan Carter with his first ball, and it looked as though the Windies might struggle to reach three figures.

However, Simmons took them past that milestone with a huge six off Tredwell, but a few airy wafts gave England some practice at holding high catches.

The Caribbean misery continued when England began their innings as Moeen was caught at point by Carter off skipper Jason Holder from what was subsequently adjudged to be a no-ball.

Even when Moeen fell for 46 from 43 balls, fortune continued to favour England as a top edge over square leg from Ian Bell fell safely, and he anchored the run chase with a patient unbeaten 35 from 68 balls.

England take on Pakistan at the same venue on Wednesday in their second and final warm-up match before the tournament begins with New Zealand hosting Sri Lanka in Christchurch at 22:00 GMT on Friday, 13 February.

England's opening match is against Australia in Melbourne on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Tillakaratne Dilshan hit 100 as Sri Lanka reached 279-7 against South Africa at Christchurch before it rained. The Proteas were set a Duckworth/Lewis target of 188 from 25 overs which they reached for the loss of five wickets with three balls to spare, helped by Quinton de Kock's 66 from 55 balls.

Another centurion was New Zealand opener Martin Guptill, who also made exactly 100 as his team-mates surprisingly struggled against Zimbabwe at Lincoln, but more rain arrived with the co-hosts on 157-7 and prevented any further play.

Out in the Sydney suburbs at Blacktown International Sportspark, Tamim Iqbal (81) and Mahmudullah (83) helped Bangladesh make 246 against Pakistan as giant fast bowler Mohammad Irfan took 5-52, before Sohaib Maqsood's unbeaten 93 helped Pakistan home by three wickets.

Marlon Samuels was bowled, leaving the Windies reeling at 35-4 in the eighth over

Lendl Simmons, nephew of Ireland coach Phil Simmons, was the only West Indian to pass 21

Sri Lanka pace bowler Lasith Malinga, sidelined since September, made his comeback from injury against South Africa

Zimbabwe found some unexpected success against New Zealand before rain intervened

Meanwhile, Pakistan's Shahid Afridi had plenty of fans at their game with Bangladesh at Sydney's Blacktown International Sportspark