Australia vs. England: Highlights, Scorecard, Report from Cricket World Cup

An Aaron Finch century powered Australia to a comprehensive 111-run victory over England in their World Cup opener in Melbourne.

Opening batsman Finch made 135 as the tournament co-hosts amassed 342-9, their highest score in an ODI at the MCG, in their 50 overs after being put into bat.

England could only make 231 in their reply, with Mitchell Marsh taking an unlikely five wickets, as they slumped to a heavy defeat in the Pool A contest.

Finch was dropped in the opening over by Chris Woakes at square leg off Jimmy Anderson, when he had yet to score, and he took full advantage by hitting 12 boundaries and three sixes in his 128-ball innings.

He shared a 146-run partnership for the fourth wicket with George Bailey (55), bringing up his sixth one-day international century from 102 balls.

He eventually departed after a direct hit from Eoin Morgan and Bailey played on to Steve Finn 10 balls later, but they had set the foundations for a big total.

Glenn Maxwell proceeded to blast 66 from only 40 balls, with Brad Haddin smashing 31 off 14 balls as the hosts scored 105 in the final 10 overs.

However, Finn did have something to smile about as he took a hat-trick with the final three balls of the innings. He finished with five for 71.

"

Controversial end! Should the ball have been dead? Judge for yourself! #ENGvsAUS #AUSvENG pic.twitter.com/elCPz7NrDs

— Paul Dennett (@the_summer_game) February 14, 2015"

Australia had made a fast start before Stuart Broad pegged back their progress by removing David Warner (22) and Shane Watson (0) with consecutive deliveries in the eighth over.

Steve Smith went for just five, bowled by Woakes, to leave Australia on 70-3 in the 11th over, but England were unable to capitalise on that position and were left chasing a record total to win at the MCG.

England never looked like threatening the total as they lost wickets at regular intervals with Marsh the chief tormentor.

Mitchell Starc started the rot when Moeen Ali (10) mistimed a pull to Bailey at mid-on before Marsh removed Gary Ballance (10), Joe Root (5), Eoin Morgan (0) and Jos Buttler (12).

For England captain Morgan it was his fourth duck in his last five innings, while Buttler was the victim of an outstanding catch in the covers by Smith.

Morgan’s side were six wickets down inside 22 overs but James Taylor and Chris Woakes managed to stem the tide with a 92-run partnership in 14 overs.

Woakes departed for 37 when he skied a Mitchell Johnson slower ball to Smith at mid-off before Starc yorked Broad first ball. Taylor played fluently, however.

He was just two runs short of a maiden international century when the game ended in confusing circumstances. Taylor was given out lbw but successfully appealed the decision only to find out that final man Jimmy Anderson had been run out at the non-striker's end.

England will look to rebound when they face New Zealand on Friday, while Australia face Bangladesh the following day.