Although the 14-team tournament, co-hosted by four-time winners Australia, as well as New Zealand, has been notable for several strong performances by the lesser nations, as with yesterday's win for South Africa over Ireland, today's match was a salutary reminder of the gulf in class that remains.

Opening batsman David Warner smashed 178 off just 133 balls as Australia eventually scored 417-6 off their 50 overs, just 17 runs short of their record one day international total of 434-4 set - in a match they ultimately lost - against South Africa in 2006. 

The haul surpassed India's previous World Cup record mark of 413-5 set against Bermuda in 2007.

Warner, the controversial 28-year-old known as one of the most destructive hitters in the game, was involved in a partnership of 260 with Steve Smith, a national record for any wicket in a one day international, with Smith hitting 95.

Glenn Maxwell blasted 88 off just 39 balls later on, with Dawlat Zadran suffering the fate of becoming the third bowler to concede 100 runs in a World Cup innings, following New Zealand's Martin Snedden in 1983 and West Indies' Jason Holder last week against South Africa.

Afghanistan, who recorded their first ever World Cup victory, against Scotland, earlier this week, were never likely to get close to the record total, and they were blown away for 142 in 37.5 overs. 

Mustachioed paceman Mitchell Johnson led the way for Australia with four wickets at a cost of just 22 runs. 

David Warner holds his bat aloft after producing another great innings against Afghanistan during Australia's Cricket World Cup in Perth ©Getty Images



Australia are now in a strong position to qualify for the quarter-finals, lying in third place in Pool A after bouncing back from defeat against New Zealand, while Afghanistan are likely to now need to beat England to have a chance of making it through.

Elsewhere today, Pakistan enjoyed a routine 129-run Pool B win over United Arab Emirates in Napier, with Ahmed Shehzad and Haris Sohail top scoring with respective scores of 93 and 70 in a total of 339-6.

UAE, the country in which Pakistan have played most of their home Test matches in recent years due to safety concerns at home, recovered from 25-3 early on thanks for 62 from in-form Shaiman Anwar to eventually score 210-8.

They now lie bottom of the group, with four successive losses, while Pakistan lie fourth, tied on two wins and two defeats with West Indies and Ireland. 

Tomorrow sees a Pool A clash between Bangladesh and Australia in Nelson.

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