WC 2015 AUS vs ENG: Aaron Finch, Mitchell Marsh power Australia to a thumping win

Melbourne: Australia routed England by 111 runs in their World Cup opener at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in front of almost 85,000 fans on Saturday. Chasing a winning target of 343, England were bowled out for 231 after Mitchell Marsh took five five for 33.

The game ended with James Taylor unbeaten on 98. Earlier, Aaron Finch cashed in after being dropped before he had scored to plunder the first century of the World Cup as Australia scored their highest ODI total against England of 342 for nine.

Seamer Steven Finn took the 2015 World Cup's first hat-trick with the last three balls of the innings but that was a meagre consolation for Eoin Morgan's side. England rued Chris Woakes putting down Finch before he'd scored at mid-wicket off the fifth ball of the innings, from James Anderson, as the dynamic opener went on to score 135 off 128 balls.

Here’s how the action unfolded:

England skipper Morgan won the toss and elected to bowl against Australia in their World Cup opener. England brought in Gary Ballance for Ravi Bopara while Australia left out spinner Xavier Doherty, preferring spinning all-rounder Glenn Maxwell.

Morning rain cleared to sunny skies for the start of the match with the MCG slowly filling towards an anticipated 90,000 full house.

"We were looking to bat, so we're very happy," said Australia captain George Bailey. "It looks a great wicket, and will be for the entire game and hopefully we will do well," Bailey added. 

Morgan added, "It shouldn't change through the game but a bit of storm came through so maybe there's a bit of moisture as well. Ballance is in, batting at No. 3. Ravi's out. We've gone for the extra batter today.

Australia are peaking at the right time for a crack at their fifth World Cup triumph and have only lost one of their last 12 ODIs against all-comers.

England, chasing a maiden World Cup title, headed into the tournament with fresh painful memories of three losses to the Australians, including a crushing 112-run defeat in the recent tri-series final.

The last of England's three losing World Cup finals was in Australia in 1992.

Not the best morning to wake up to in England, and you might feel even worse when you learn that Finch, Australia's first centurion against England in a World Cup match, was dropped on zero. England pinned their hopes on the pitch having retained enough moisture from the overnight rain and their new-ball attack. Just when skipper Eoin Morgan's decision to send the Aussies into bat looked it may backfire, the giant Broad stepped up to rock the home side. He bowled the dangerous David Warner for 22 and then with the next ball in his fourth over, had Shane Watson caught behind for a duck.

Australia, who had breezed on a 50-run opening stand off just 37 balls, were rocking at 57 for two in the eighth over. Steve Smith, however, kept out the hat-trick ball by digging out a Broad yorker. Chris Woakes put down a sharp chance at mid-wicket before Aaron Finch had scored in James Anderson's opening over and the little opener profited to be 33 off 27 balls.

Steven Smith, who was the new man in after Broad sent Watson back to the dressing room looked a bit shaky and it showed after the energetic batsman knocked a Chris Woakes delivery back at the stumps.

Finch also received a standing ovation from the 90,000 odd audience at the MCG. Skipper Bailey provided good support to Finch at the other end and both the batsmen were looking well settled at the crease. The fans too enjoyed a good game at Melbourne.

Steven Finn took care of Aussie skipper George Bailey after he edged one back at the stumps. Bailey scored a decent 55 off 69 balls. Australia had two new men at the crease- Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh.

And if his dismissal, and Bailey's in quick succession might have signalled a fightback, Glenn Maxwell's blitz snuffed it all out. England's tactic of bowling slower short balls backfired horribly as they leaked 105 runs in the last 10. Maxwell fired a quick 66 off 63 balls to take Australia well beyond the 300 run mark. Mitchell Marsh too contributed to the total scoring 23. Brad Haddin too had a good day with the bat scoring 31 runs off 23 deliveries. He also touched a milestone- 3000 runs in ODI. 

England bowlers were very poor barring a few exceptional performances from Steven Finn, who picked up the first hat-trick of this World Cup but was expensive going for 71 runs. Broad picked up two wickets while Chris Woakes picked up one as Australia now pose 343 runs on the board.

Marsh continued to rip England apart after taking his fifth wicket, that of Joss Buttler. This one wouldn't have been possible without Steve Smith after he lived up to his reputation of being the most energetic fielder. Smith picked up a ripper at cover to get rid of Buttler who scored just 12 runs.

It looked like the Mitchell Marsh carnage had ended and England were being quite positive. In the middle, James Taylor and Chris Woakes put up quite a partnership.

The England innings ended with a lot of drama after James Taylor, who was looking for a World Cup century fell short by two runs. James Anderson was the last man to depart after being run out. 

As far as Australia were concerned, they definitely have sent out a sharp message to all the other teams. Other than Marsh's five-wicket haul, Starc and Johson added two wickets each to their names. Josh Hazlewood had a bad day after going for 45 runs without any wicket. Aaron Finch was without any doubt the Man of the Match for his brilliant innings.

Teams:

Australia - David Warner, Aaron Finch, Shane Watson, Steve Smith, George Bailey (capt), Glenn Maxwell,  Mitchell Marsh, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood.

England - Moeen Ali, Ian Bell, Gary Ballance, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (capt), James Taylor, Jos Buttler,  Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad, Steven Finn, James Anderson.