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Australia hits 275-8 against Windies

JOHANNESBURG — Mitchell Johnson smashed 73 off 47 balls Saturday to guide Australia to 275-8 against West Indies at the Champions Trophy.

The left-arm fast bowler hit eight fours and three sixes in recording his highest one-day international score. He shared in a 70-run partnership for the eighth wicket with Brett Lee during a batting powerplay from the 44^th to the 48^th over.

Lee contributed only 25 of those runs as Johnson manufactured some innovative shots, mixed with raw power in smashing three sixes over the midwicket boundary at Wanderers.

Australia got off to the worst possible start with Shane Watson bowled off the opening ball of the innings by Kemar Roach. But captain Ricky Ponting steadied the innings on a pitch that contained plenty of bounce.

Ponting hit 79 off 94 balls with 11 fours and a six, and had to survive at least three deliveries that jumped up off a length and hit him on his gloves or torso.

West Indies’ bowlers did well after Ponting and Tim Paine (33) had put on 85 for the second wicket as Australia lost 5-86 with wickets falling at regular intervals. Callum Ferguson made 20 to be the only other batsman to reach double figures.

Left-arm spinner Nikita Miller was largely responsible for the tight bowling, taking 2-24 off 20 overs. He had Ponting stumped, and bowled the dangerous Cameron White for 4.