Oz break records in Afghan rout

Australia hit the highest World Cup score in tournament history on Wednesday as they thrashed Afghanistan by a record 275 runs, a result which was also the greatest winning margin in tournament history.

The home team made 417-6 at the WACA led by opener David Warner's 178-run blitz, his fourth one-day international century and his country's highest individual World Cup score as the four-time champions went past the previous best of 413-5 made by India against Bermuda in 2007.

It was the third 400-plus total at this World Cup after South Africa twice went through the barrier.

In reply, Afghanistan could manage just 142 from 37.3 overs, although Nawroz Mangal, who top-scored with 33, gave their smattering of fans at the ground something to cheer about when he hit Mitchell Marsh for successive sixes.

Johnson did much of the damage to claim 4-22 from 7.3 overs. Fellow left-armer Mitchell Starc continued his amazing vein of World Cup form with 2-18 and has 10 wickets so far at just 9.3 runs apiece.

Australia were sent in to bat and the decision was greeted by a chorus of cheers from the crowd.

There was a surprise at the toss, with experienced all-rounder Shane Watson dropped to allow James Faulkner to return after a side strain, but the onslaught that followed was extremely predictable. Warner led the way and accelerated markedly after reaching three figures from 92 balls.

Dropped on 114, the left-hander seemed set to compound Watson's misery by passing his Australian ODI record of 185 not out against Bangladesh in Dhaka in 2011 only to sky a delivery to mid-on from the bowling of Shapoor Zadran (2-89).

Australia face Sri Lanka at the SCG in their next match on Sunday, while things don't get any easier for Afghanistan as they face unbeaten New Zealand on the same day at Napier in a bid to add to their lone win against Scotland.