ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Records broken in Australia vs Afghanistan

Australia hammered 417 for 6, the highest World Cup score ever, in 50 overs against Afghanistan at the WACA, Perth, in a Pool A fixture of the 2015 World Cup. Mohammad Nabi’s decision to field first after winning the toss backfired dramatically as David Warner tore the Afghanistan attack to pieces, slamming a 133-ball 178 that included 19 fours and 5 sixes.He was well supported by Steven Smith, who was unfortunate to miss out on a century by 5 runs as the duo put on 260 runs for the second wicket. Glenn Maxwell then joined the party, smashing a 39-ball 88 that included 6 fours and 7 sixes, to help Australia post a mammoth 1st innings score on the board. In reply, Afghanistan were bundled out for just 142, with Mitchell Johnson (4/22) being the pick of the bowlers.Here are the records that were broken during the match:

#1 Highest total in the history of World Cups

Australia’s total of 417 for 6 in their Pool A encounter against Afghanistan is now the highest ever team total in the history of the World Cup, eclipsing the previous highest of 413 for 5 that India scored against Bermuda in the 2007 edition of the tournament in the Caribbean.

Naturally then, it is also Australia’s highest total in Word Cup history. The previous highest was the total of 377 for 6 that they scored against South Africa in the 2007 World Cup.

#2 Highest individual score by an Australian in World Cups

David Warner’s innings of 178 off 133 balls is the highest individual score made by an Australian batsman in the history of the World Cup. The opener went past Matthew Hayden’s score of 158 runs from 143 balls that he made against the West Indies, once again in the 2007 World Cup at Antigua.

Warner’s score is also the third highest individual score for an Australian batsman in ODI cricket, with the record for the highest score being held by Shane Watson, who smashed 185 not out off 96 balls against Bangladesh at Mirpur in 2011.

#3 Highest partnership for Australia in ODI history

One of the main reasons for Australia posting such a mammoth total on the board was the second-wicket partnership of 260 runs between Warner and Steven Smith. This is now the new Australian record for the highest partnership for any wicket in their 50-over history.

They overtook the previous highest of 252 runs, which came between Ricky Ponting and Shane Waston against England in the 2009 Champions Trophy at Centurion.

#4 Joint-third fastest fifty scored in World Cup history

Glenn Maxwell reached his half-century off just 21 deliveries, making it the third fastest fifty in World Cup history. The 26-year-old is joint third with former South African wicketkeeper Mark Boucher and current New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum.

McCullum, though broke his own record for the fastest fifty in a World Cup earlier on in this tournament, during his whirlwind knock of 77 from 25 balls. He reached the landmark during that innings in a mere 18 balls.

#5 First time in World Cup history that four bowlers have conceded 70+ runs

The Australian batsmenwould have been determined to make a statement today after being bowled out for a paltry 151 against New Zealand in their previous encounter, and it was the Afghanistan bowlers who had to bear the brunt of that. For the first time in the history of the World Cup, four bowlers conceded 70 or more runs in their quota of 10 overs.

Dawlat Zadran (10-1-101-2), ShapoorZadran (10-0-89-2), Hamid Hassan (10-0-70-1) and skipper Mohammad Nabi (10-0-84-0) came under severe punishment at the hands of all the Australian batsmen.

#6 Joint-most number of 400s hit in a single calendar year

We are just three months into the year and already four 400+ totals have been achieved in ODI cricket. South Africa scored the first three 400s, two of which came against West Indies while one against Ireland and Australia scored the fourth one today.

The only other instance when four 400s were hit in a single year was in 2006, with Sri Lanka scoring 443 for 9 against Netherlands at Amstelveen, South Africa posting 418 for 5 against Zimbabwe at Potchefstroom, not to forget the famous 434 game between South Africa and Australia at Johannesburg.

#7 Biggest margin of victory in World Cups and for Australia in ODIs

Afghanistan’s demolition for a measly score of 142 gave Australia an emphatic 275-run win, which is not only the biggest margin of victory in World Cup history but also Australia’s biggest ever win in ODIs. It is also the second highest margin of victory in ODI cricket, with New Zealand’s 290-run win over Ireland in 2008 still remaining the biggest.

As far as World Cups are concerned, Australia have bettered India’s 257-run win against Bermuda in the 2007 edition, which was equalled just the other day when South Africa thrashed the West Indians by the same margin at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).