Aussies off to winning start
Johnson shines with sparkling half-century
Mitchell Johnson sizzled with an unbeaten 73 as Australia began the defence of their Champions Trophy title with a 50-run win over a fighting second-string West Indies at New Wanderers Stadium here on Saturday.
Riding on Johnson’s maiden half-century coupled with skipper Ricky Ponting’s brilliant 79 Australia rattled up a challenging 275 for eight after sent in to bat.
Johnson came to bat at number eight and in company of Brett Lee (25) conjured up a crucial partnership of 70-runs for the eighth wicket to lift his team from the pits. The defending champions bowled out the West Indies for 225 in 46.5 overs.
Spinner Nathan Hautritz (2/23), Peter Siddle (2/37) and Shane Watson (2/34) snared two wickets each.
Opener Andre Fletcher played a fantastic knock of 54 and Travis Dowlin followed him with an equally impressive 55 to raise hopes of an upset but could not finish off the job for their team. West Indies, who had lost their opening encounter against Pakistan, thus have been ousted from the tournament.
Earlier, Johnson’s fiery unbeaten 73-run knock came at a time when Australia were staring an early fold of their innings after being reduced to 171 for seven.
Johnson came out all guns blazing and struck eight boundaries and three sixes, in just 43 balls to change the complexion of the game.
Australia were cruising at 85 for one, following the first-ball dismissal of Shane Watson, as skipper Ponting and Tim Paine batted beautifully against a depleted Windies side.
However, Australian middle-order crumbled when their partnership ended with the wicket of Paine (33).
