Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Aaron Finch smashed a sparkling century as Australia dealt England a 111-run humiliation in their World Cup opener at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Dropped on the second ball he faced, opening batsman Finch blasted 135 at his home ground to lay the platform for victory as the co-hosts piled on 342-9, two runs shy of the venue's ODI record.

All-rounder Mitchell Marsh then took a career-best 5-33 as Australia put on a ruthless Valentine Day's display in the field that amplified the abysmal nature of their opponents' earlier efforts.

Having reprieved bulky opener Finch, England let a string of chances go begging, dropping catches and missing run-out opportunities to set a miserable tone for the start of their campaign.

They had reduced Australia to 70-3 but released the pressure and Australia's formidable batting lineup duly went into punishment mode.

After stand-in skipper George Bailey (55) teamed with Finch for a 146-run partnership, pugnacious all-rounder Glenn Maxwell smacked 66 off 40 balls.

Ironically, Steven Finn, who like his colleagues had been thrashed to all corners of the ground, became the first England bowler to take a World Cup hat-trick by dismissing Brad Haddin, Maxwell and Mitchell Johnson in the last three balls of Australia's innings.

He finished with a hugely expensive 5-71 and seemed embarrassed by his achievement.

It was to be a brief moment of celebration for the English, who were all but beaten by the 18th over of their chase, when captain Eoin Morgan flailed at a slower ball and was well-caught by wicketkeeper Haddin.
Marsh, who had earlier dismissed opener Ian Bell (36), Joe Root (5) and Gary Balance (10), then completed his five-wicket haul when Steven Smith took an extraordinary catch at short cover to dismiss wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.

The match ended in an odd manner, with Taylor initially given out lbw. He successfully had the decision overturned on review but was denied the chance of a century after a second review showed Maxwell had thrown down the stumps with James Anderson short of his ground.
Scorecard:
Australia 342-9 in 50 overs (Finch 135, Finn 5-71)
England 231 all out in 41.5 overs (Taylor 98*, Marsh 5-33)

*Agencies