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.

England, chasing a winning target of 343, were bowled out for 231 after Mitchell Marsh took 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.