Speedster Brett Lee hit the ground running with three wickets and Shane Warne bowled ominously well as Australia crushed North West province by 151 runs in a World Cup practice match.

Darren Lehmann, forced out of Australia's opening Cup game against Pakistan on February 11 because of suspension, retired with 64 runs to his credit from 68 balls as Australia recovered from 3-60 to make 9-280 from 50 overs.

Damien Martyn (40 off 55 balls), Adam Gilchrist (27 off 37), Ricky Ponting (21 off 34), Brad Hogg (31 off 34) and Andrew Symonds (21 off 20) all made tidy contributions.

Lee ripped through the overwhelmed North West top order to take 3-27 from five overs before Warne (2-14 off seven) and Hogg (2-20 off nine) launched a two-pronged wrist spin attack that might end up being used during the World Cup.

Warne looked especially sharp in his third match back from a dislocated shoulder he suffered on December 15.

Australia's other recent injury worries, Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie came through unscathed with six-over returns of 1-11 and 1-23 respectively.

Gillespie missed the entire Australian domestic one-day tournament with elbow ligament damage he suffered in January, while McGrath played only game because of side and back problems.

Australia's first-up effort was far more impressive than South Africa's seven-wicket embarrassment against Western Province last week, confirming Australia as firm favourite for the World Cup.

The Australian side was due to meet Australian Cricket Board (ACB) chief executive James Sutherland, general manager Michael Brown and players' representative Tim May after the game to discuss security issues surrounding its February 24 game in Zimbabwe.

Sutherland and Michael Brown were given a briefing from Australia's High Commissioner to Zimbabwe, Jonathan Brown, during today's game before they passed on all information to the players at the team hotel.

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