Australia beat West Indies by 50 runs

CRICKET: JOHANNESBURG, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Australia beat West Indies by 50 runs in their Champions Trophy Group ‘A’ match on Saturday.

Mitchell Johnson was unbeaten on 73 as a late run rush lifted Australia to 275-8 off 50 overs.

It was the highest ODI knock for a man better known for his ability with the ball and virtually assured the defending champions of a winning start in Group A which includes India and Pakistan.

After some mid-innings wobbles saw Australia slump to 171-7, Johnson tormented the tiring West Indies attack and his 47-ball spell at the crease yielded eight fours and three sixes.

Skipper Ricky Ponting steadied the innings with a 79-run stand that included nine fours and one six before being stumped by Chadwick Walton off the bowling of Nikita Miller.

West Indies, lacking their first-choice players because of a long-running contract dispute, need to score at a rate of 5.52 runs per over to win and cause the biggest upset of the 11-year tournament.

		AUSTRALIA

S.Watson b Roach 		 00
T. Paine c Walton b Bernard 	 33
R. Ponting st Walton b Miller 	 79
M. Hussey c Fletcher b Bernard 	 06
C. Ferguson b Roach 		 20
C. White b Miller 		 04
J. Hopes c Walton b Sammy 	 05
M. Johnson not out 		 73
B. Lee run out 			 25
N. Hauritz not out 		 07
Extras (lb8, w10, nb5) 		 23
Total (8 wkts, 50 overs) 	275

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-0 (Watson), 2-85 (Paine), 3-120 (Hussey), 4-148 (Ponting), 
		5-162 (White), 6-164 (Ferguson), 7-171 (Hopes), 8-241 (Lee) 

DID NOT BAT: Peter Siddle.

BOWLING: Roach 10-0-73-2 (4nb, 4w), Tonge 10-1-54-0, Sammy 10-0-53-1 
		(2w), Bernard 10-0-63-2, Miller 10-1-24-2.

West Indies: 225 (T. Dowlin 55, A. Fletcher 54). 

Reuters