Oz fly high on Johnson's six in SL

Fast bowler Mitchell Johnson took a career best six for 31 to bowl Australia to a comfortable seven wickets win over Sri Lanka in the first one-day international at the Pallakele Stadium on Wednesday. Best bowling for Australia in one-dayers

Fast bowler Mitchell Johnson, playing in his 100th one-day international, took a career best six for 31 to bowl Australia to a comfortable seven wickets win over Sri Lanka in the first one-day international at the Pallakele Stadium on Wednesday.

HT Image

Johnson who came on to bowl as the sixth bowler, took a wicket off his third ball and went on to scythe through Sri Lanka who were dismissed for 191 in 41.1 overs. Australia knocked the runs off with the experienced pair Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke easing their side to victory with an unbroken stand of 101 for the third wicket.

Australia were given a rousing start by Shane Watson, who cracked a brilliant 69 off 51 balls including six sixes and five fours before Sri Lanka broke through.

Sri Lanka got off to a good start after winning the toss with Upul Tharanga (34) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (29) sharing an opening partnership of 54 off 58 balls. But the late order batsmen paid the penalty for some injudicious stroke play and Sri Lanka slid to 117-7.