Hosts Australia crushs England in World Cup opener

Host nation Australia smashed their highest ever ODI score in Melbourne as they routed England by 111 runs to begin their 2015 ICC World Cup campaign in emphatic fashion on Saturday.

Sent into bat by England captain Eoin Morgan, an Aaron Finch-led Australia made a record-breaking 9/342, before Mitch Marsh spearheaded the bowling attack as the visitors were dismissed for just 231 in reply.

Playing in their first ever World Cup matches in front of an expectant crowd of 84,336 people at the MCG, Finch and Marsh were the stars for Australia. Finch, a Melbourne local, carted 135 from just 128 deliveries with the bat, while Marsh claimed 5/33 with the ball as the hosts outplayed their disappointing opponents in all departments.

It had been a nervous start from both sides and that was embodied in just the fifth ball of Australia's innings. Finch spooned a tentative shot to Chris Woakes at square leg, only for the Englishman to grass the simple chance.

The opener was then keen to make England's bowlers pay for that mistake, joining with Dave Warner in a 50-run stand that came from just 37 balls.

But, just as Australia appeared on top, England struck. Stuart Broad was the enforcer, clean bowling Warner on 22 before sending maligned batsman Shane Watson back to the pavilion with his very next delivery.

Australia's problems were compounded when the dangerous Steve Smith departed for 5, chopping Woakes back onto his own stumps to leave the hosts on the ropes having lost three wickets for just 13 runs.

But Woakes's wicket hardly rectified the chance he had earlier afforded to Finch, as the Australian opener continued on his merry way. With a single to mid-on, the Victorian notched his half-century from 42 balls, but wasn't finished yet.

Powering James Anderson and Joe Root over the fence with terrific shots in quick succession, Finch moved into the 90s with consummate ease. A glance to the fine leg boundary then brought up his sixth ODI century from 102 deliveries.

It had come at a crucial point for Australia, who had now reclaimed the ascendency as Finch and George Bailey's partnership went past three figures.

Bailey, standing in for injured skipper Michael Clarke, had pragmatic opinions about keeping his position once the Australian captain returned, saying in the lead-up to the match that he would "probably" be dropped for the team's second game against Bangladesh next week.

But on this form, he gave his chances of survival a fighting chance. Coming in at a make-or-break position, Bailey made 55 from 68 balls and joined in a crucial 146-run stand with Finch.

Both were eventually dismissed, Finch on 135 from 128 deliveries following a direct hit run-out by Morgan, and Bailey chopping on from Steven Finn soon after, but their steadying partnership gave Australia's late hitters a license to free their arms.

Glenn Maxwell hit four consecutive boundaries on his way to 66 off 40, while Marsh (23 off 20) and Brad Haddin (31 off 14) helped Australia to a record-breaking total of 9/342.

In the midst of the late drama, Finn ended the innings with a bizarre hat trick, dismissing Haddin, Maxwell and Mitchell Johnson in successive balls to finish with figures of 5/71 from his allotted 10 overs.

But it would ultimately prove little consolation for England, as an early Australian onslaught with the ball all but resigned the visitors to a comprehensive defeat.

Moeen Ali spooned Mitchell Starc to mid-on for 10, before the returning Gary Ballance, playing in his first ODI since September last year, was also dismissed for 10 off the bowling of Marsh.

The up-and-coming Australian all-rounder was on fire and soon after, within the space of two balls, dismissed Ian Bell for 34 and Root for 5 as England slumped to 4/66.

Their wickets represented England's innings as a whole, out to careless shots with Bell pulling down the throat of Starc at deep mid-wicket and Root top-edging a shorter delivery to Haddin behind the stumps.

Marsh couldn't complete the third hat-trick opportunity of the day, but he did continue his hot streak with the wicket of Morgan next. The England captain is in the midst of a dismal run with the bat and now has five ducks in his last eight innings as he was out caught behind without troubling the scorers.

The fun in the field continued for Australia, with Smith taking an outstanding diving catch to dismiss Jos Buttler on 10, handing Marsh his first ever international five-wicket haul.

Although James Taylor and Woakes salvaged a slimmer of pride for England, combining for a frustrating 92-run stand from 84 balls, England's hopes had already been dashed.

Once Johnson dismissed Woakes on 37, England's tail collapsed. Taylor was the last man standing, making an unbeaten 98 from 90 balls, but England was bowled out for 231 as Australia cruised to a resounding 111-run victory. Endi