Defending World Twenty20 champions Pakistan suffered a 12-run defeat to Zimbabwe in their final warm-up match at Beausejour Stadium in Gros Islet, St Lucia.

After winning the toss and opting to field first, Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi must have thought he had made the right decision when his team limited Zimbabwe to 143 for seven from their 20 overs.

It could have been even better for Afridi’s side, who at one stage had the Africans reeling on 64 for five, but Charles Coventry (30 from 19 balls) and Elton Chigumbura (49 not out from 35) gave Zimbabwe’s total some respectability.

Afridi was the star bowler for Pakistan, finishing with figures of four for 24.

However, Zimbabwe, who edged Australia by one run on Tuesday, had a captain in equally inspired form with the ball - Prosper Utseya’s four for 15 helping skittle Pakistan for just 132.

Kamran Akmal made a decent start for the T20 world champions at the top of the order with 37 from 27 deliveries, but only Fawad Alam (32) and Misbah-ul-Haq followed him into double figures as Pakistan fell short.

Elsewhere, Eoin Morgan confirmed his liking for South Africa’s bowlers with another match-winning role as England narrowly completed an unbeaten warm-up campaign with a five-wicket win over the Proteas at the Kensington Oval.

Morgan (63) began his contribution after England lurched to nine for three in the third over of their reply to 125 for five.

No South Africa batsman had been able to dominate after Graeme Smith won the toss, until JP Duminy (30 from 21 balls) and Albie Morkel (32 from 21) gathered telling late momentum in an unbroken stand of 58.

But, reprising the 45-ball 85 not out he smashed the South Africans for at the Wanderers last November, Morgan dominated a much-needed fourth-wicket stand of 71 in 11 overs with Paul Collingwood.

The diminutive left-hander announced himself with a dismissive pull for six off Morne Morkel on his way to a 53-ball half-century which also contained six fours.

Morgan was unable to live up to his ‘finisher’ mantle, holing out in the deep off Rusty Theron but Luke Wright and Tim Bresnan did just enough as England sneaked the verdict by five wickets with three balls to spare.

Earlier in St Lucia, Australia enjoyed a thumping 101-run triumph over the Windward Islands.

Opener David Warner top-scored for the victors with 51, while David Hussey fell one short of his half-century and captain Michael Clarke contributed 30 as Australia reached 189 for eight from their 20 overs.

Mervin Matthew was the pick of the Windward Islanders’ bowlers, snaring both openers in Warner and Shane Watson (17) in his three for 34 from four overs.

Their response with the bat never really got going, however, with wickets falling at regular intervals.

Daniel Christian and Lyndon James hit 20 apiece, the latter unbeaten, with Keddy Lesporis (11) the only other batsmen to manage double figures as the Windward Islanders crumpled for just 88 all out.

Shaun Tait, Steven Smith and Clarke each claimed two wickets for the Australians.