PHOTOS: Finch, Marsh give Australia rousing start

Mitchell Marsh of Australia celebrates with team-mates after taking his fifth wicket of England's Jos Buttler during the World Cup match at Melbourne Cricket Ground. Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Australia thrashed arch rivals England by 111 runs on opening day of the ICC World Cup at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Sent into bat, Australia posted a daunting 342 for nine.

Australia were off to a blistering start before Stuart Broad pulled England back into the match with two wickets in two balls to remove David Warner (22) and Shane Watson (0).

Aaron Finch of Australia celebrates after reaching his century during the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup match against England at Melbourne Cricket Ground. Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Aaron Finch struck tournament's first century (135), in the process becoming the fourth Australian to score a hundred on his World Cup debut.

Finch, dropped on nought by Chris Woakes off James Anderson, helped Australia off to a blistering start adding 57 for the opening wicket with Warner.

The 28-year-old hit 12 boundaries and three sixes in his 128-ball knock. It was his sixth ODI hundred.

He was named the player of the match.

Skipper George Bailey also made substantial contribution, scoring 55 off 69 balls while sharing a 146-run stand for the fourth wicket with Finch. Bailey completed 2,000 ODI runs en route.

Glenn Maxwell of Australia celebrates after reaching his half century during the World Cup match against England at Melbourne Cricket Ground. Photograph: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Thereafter, Maxwell blazed his way to a 40-ball 66. He found the fence 11 times during his innings. It was his 10th ODI fifty.

Maxwell added 53 runs (off 42 balls) for the sixth wicket with Mitchell Marsh (23). He added another 61 (off 27 balls) for the seventh wicket with Brad Haddin (31).

England's Steven Finn celebrates a wicket. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

For three-times runner-up England, seeking to script their maiden ODI World Cup title, Steven Finn was the most successful bowler, returning figures of five for 71.

The 25-year-old took the wickets of Haddin, Maxwell and Mitchel Johnson off the last three balls of the innings.

It was the most expensive hat-trick in the history of the competition. Nonetheless, Finn became the first England bowler to take a hat-trick in the World Cup.

England's James Taylor plays a shot. Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Chasing a formidable total, England were reduced to 96 for two.

James Taylor then steadied the innings, with a 92-run stand for the seventh wicket with Chris Woakes (37).

Taylor completed his fifth ODI fifty but was left stranded on 98 when James Anderson (8) was run out.

England was dismissed for 231 (in 41.5 overs), ensuring the home team an emphatic start.

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