Adam Gilchrist and Jimmy Maher guided Australia to victory by five wickets in a difficult World Cup warm-up cricket match against Northerns Titans at Super Sport Park in South Africa.

Chasing the Titans' 277, Australia lost opener Matthew Hayden for a duck before Gilchrist blasted 71 from 64 balls, with five fours and five sixes, and Maher produced 78 from 80 balls to ensure Australia entered next week's first Cup match against Pakistan on a roll.

Australia has now won seven straight games, the last four in the tri-series at home and two practice matches since arriving in South Africa last week.

Legspinner Shane Warne (1-70 from eight overs) left the field with a bruised finger and split fingernail but returned to action as captain Ricky Ponting skipped the game because of tightness in his hamstring.

Ponting's injury is not serious and he will play against Pakistan.

Andrew Symonds, having conceded 0-36 from three overs, made a decent 38 before falling to an unwise attempt to sweep Maurice Aronstam around the corner.

Damien Martyn hit a handy 31 from 48 balls while Brad Hogg helped Australia home with a nifty little 26 (33 balls).

The Australian team travels to Cape Town tomorrow for the opening ceremony before returning to Johannesburg for the first match of its Cup defence.

Darren Lehmann will be unavailable because he has one match to serve on a five-game ban for making a racial remark last month.

Michael Bevan has rated himself a 50-50 chance after a speedy recovery from a torn groin muscle.

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