JOIN USFavourites Australia launched their cricket World Cup campaign with a flourish as the co-hosts rode on Aaron Finch's brisk century, the tournament's first, and Mitchell Marsh's five-for to record a crushing 111-run victory over old foes England here today.
Put into bat, the four-time winners rode on Finch's seventh ODI century to post a formidable 342 for nine as the packed MCG enjoyed the onslaught.
Chasing 343 for a win, the Eoin Morgan-led side failed to get going only be bundled for 231 in 41.5 overs. James Taylor's unbeaten 98 was the only bright spot in an otherwise lackluster performance by England.
There was a bit of a controversy in the end as James Anderson was was run out after umpire Aleem Dar adjudged Taylor lbw off Josh Hazlewood. The decision was later reviewed and Taylor was given not out by the third umpire but Anderson at the non-strikers end was found short of his crease.
But the day belonged to Finch, whose 135 off 128 balls lay the foundation for a huge score before the big-hitting Glenn Maxwell blazed his way to a 40-ball 66.
They were also helped by skipper George Bailey's sedate half-century, his 69-ball 55 keeping things steady in the middle overs.
With the ball, Marsh shone bright returning impressive figures of five for 33 in his quota of nine overs.
If Australia bowled well then England faltered in their chase, losing wickets at regular intervals.
Needing a good start, the visitors lost both their openers - Mooen Ali and Ian Bell - by the 10th over with just 49 runs on the board.
Coming in at No.6, Taylor tried his level best to make a fight of it but his 91-ball stay till end, laced with 11 fours and 2 sixes, just did not prove enough in an otherwise poor batting show.
Chris Woakes contributed with 37 runs lower down the order while Bell made 36 at the top. Though experience, Steven Finn was the most successful bowler for England, returning figures of 5 for 71, including a hat-trick off the last three balls of Australia's innings. Earlier, Finch struck the tournament's first ton before Maxwell blazed his way to propel Australia.
Finch hit 12 boundaries and three sixes while the big-hitting Maxwell found the fence 11 times.
Bailey also made substantial contribution, scoring 55 off 69 balls while sharing a 146-run stand for the fourth wicket.
Four-time winners Australia got added impetus towards the end with Maxwell clearing the fence regularly.
Leading the co-hosts in the absence of Michael Clarke, Bailey's innings was laced with three hits to fence.
For three-times runner-up England, seeking to script their maiden ODI World Cup title, seamer Steven Finn was the most successful bowler, returning figures of 5/71, while Stuart Broad took two wickets.
Finch felt the love of his home crowd as the Victorian marked Valentine's Day with the first hundred of the tournament.
Finch, dropped on nought by Chris Woakes off James Anderson, helped Australia off to a blistering start before Broad pulled England back into the match with two wickets in two balls to remove David Warner (22) and Shane Watson (0).
But Finch, well-supported by Bailey in a fourth-wicket stand of 146, kept going in front of an estimated crowd of more than 90,000.
Finch's innings ended when he was run out by England captain Eoin Morgan's direct hit from mid-off while going for a needless single. Bailey followed soon afterwards, playing on to Finn.