Australia's high-profile bowling attack endured an early batting onslaught from fearless teenager Hiral Patel before recovering to dismiss Canada for 211 in 45.4 overs in Wednesday's World Cup Group A match.

Patel bludgeoned a dazzling 37-ball 50, including five fours and three sixes, as Canada scored at more than 10 runs per over in the first four overs and raced to 77-1 after 10.

Patel eventually fell to Shane Watson for 54, and though the scoring rate fell significantly after his departure, Ashish Bagai and Zunin Surkari dug in for a 68-run partnership to lead Canada to 150-2.

Australia finally made its superiority count as Canada lost its last seven wickets for 61 runs to leave Ricky Ponting's team chasing 212 for a 34th straight World Cup win.

Brett Lee ended with figures of 4-46, one of five Australian bowlers to share the wickets.

Having failed to bowl out Kenya on the same wicket on Sunday, it loomed as another frustratingly long day in the field for Australia when Canada hit the 150 mark for minimal loss of wickets.