Cricket: Work to do after T20 loss

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum attempts a reverse sweep as Pakistan's wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal takes his position during their Twenty20 World Cup warm-up match in Dhaka. Photo / AP

New Zealand batsmen need to improve after meagre 145 for nine in first Cup warm-up.

Rugby types are fond of the term, and New Zealand's cricketers will know just what they mean by "work-ons" after their opening warm-up T20 World Cup defeat to Pakistan yesterday.

They have plenty still to tick off going into their second and final leadup game against Australia in Fatullah tonight, after losing to Pakistan by six wickets in Mirpur.

They arrived in Bangladesh on the back of a rousing home summer. Conditions for the T20 tournament will be vastly different from home. They knew that and have tailored preparations accordingly.

However the batsmen, apart from captain Brendon McCullum, have much to do after making only 145 for nine.

McCullum's unbeaten 59 off 45 balls kept New Zealand afloat but half centuries from Kamran Akmal and captain Mohammad Hafeez set up a win off the penultimate ball.

"The result wasn't as ideal as we would have liked but it was a good hitout in a competitive environment," seamer Tim Southee said.

"The idea is to try things out before the tournament in conditions we're going to be faced with. We gained a lot out of it, leading into the Australia game."

Pakistan possess two T20 bowling aces. Seamer Umar Gul is an old hand at the skills required in the shortest game. Twice he's taken five for six - including against New Zealand at The Oval in 2009 - and only Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis has done better.

Offspinner Saeed Ajmal had the New Zealand batsmen in knots. To be fair, he has plenty of previous for that.

Southee, and spinners Nathan McCullum and Ronnie Hira, were tidy, but didn't have enough runs to work with.

The experiment with Kane Williamson opening didn't work, but won't be discarded immediately.

The format against Australia is interesting. The day's activities will start an hour earlier than scheduled - but won't be televised - and will consist of a T20 game, followed by a five-over game and a Super Over shootout. Both teams should get much out of the day.

There is a feeling this will be a tournament full of relatively low scores unless the pitches are sparked up between now and the beginning of the tournament proper early on Saturday. The odds on that are as low as some of the deliveries at the Shere Bangla Stadium yesterday.

"140 is very defendable on these wickets. With their slow nature it's hard [for batsmen] to get yourself in," Southee added.

In a form of the game where totals approaching 200 are becoming more common, this could yet turn out to be a bowler's tournament.

What's next

* New Zealand play Australia in their second and final warm-up game for the World T20 in Fatullah tonight.

* They will play a T20 game, followed by a five-over contest and a Super Over.

* New Zealand's first group game is against England in Chittagong early on Sunday morning (NZT).