PERTH (TIP): Australia hit the highest World Cup score in tournament history on march 4 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 — 408/5 against the West Indies and 411/4 in the game with Ireland.

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 in the World Cup at just 9.3 runs apiece.

Australia were sent in to bat by Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi, a decision greeted by a chorus of cheers from the crowd, and then tormented the minnows.