Australia crush Afghanistan by 275 runs

Perth, March 4

David Warner made mincemeat of an inexperienced Afghanistan bowling attack with a magnificent 178 as hosts Australia thrashed Afghanistan by 275 runs after piling up a tournament record 417 for six in a group league match of the cricket World Cup here on Wednesday.

Batting first, Australia surpassed India's 413 for five against Bermuda in 2007.

Afghanistan were never in the match as they were bundled out for 142 in 37.3 overs a few days after their initial high following the Scotland victory.

The pace and bounce extracted by Mitchell Johnson (4/22) was too much for the Afghans to handle as Australia went into the match with business like precision after their one-wicket defeat to New Zealand in a low-scoring tie.

Mitchell Starc (2/18) and Josh Hazlewood (2/25) were also impressive while skipper Michael Clarke did roll his arm over for five overs to get a wicket in the process.

For Afghanistan Nawroj Mangal (33) hit two huge sixes off Marsh before Aaron Finch's brilliant catch off Johnson ended his stay.

Earlier, courtesy Warner's career-best innings off 133 balls and an attractive 95 off 98 deliveries from Steven Smith, Australia dominated with the duo adding a record 260 runs for the second-wicket partnership.

While Warner's fourth ODI hundred was studded with 19 boundaries and five sixes, Smith's innings had eight boundaries and a six.

The stage was then set for Glenn Maxwell to give the final flourish with a scintillating 88 off only 39 balls, joining the run feast by sending the bowlers on a leather hunt. There were 14 sixes in all in the innings.

Maxwell hit six boundaries and seven sixes in his brief innings that was high on entertainment quotient.

After a disappointing batting show against New Zealand, the Australian team needed a run feast and Warner, Smith and Maxwell provided the sizable crowd enough entertainment.

Maxwell played some amazing reverse flicks along with old fashioned thwacks over extra cover and deep fine leg to completely deflate the Afghan attack. — PTI