Opener Aaron Finch struck tournament’s first century before Glenn Maxwell blazed his way to a 40-ball 66 as Australia posted a daunting 342 for nine against England to launch their campaign on an attacking note in the cricket World Cup here today.

Sent into bat, Australia rode Finch’s 128-ball 135 and Maxwell’s enterprising knock to lay the foundation for a big score at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Finch hit 12 boundaries and three sixes while the big-hitting Maxwell found the fence 11 times.

Skipper George Bailey also made substantial contribution, scoring 55 off 69 balls while sharing a 146-run stand for the fourth wicket.

Four-time winners Australia got added impetus towards the end with Maxwell clearing the fence regularly.

Leading the co-hosts in the absence of Michael Clarke, Bailey’s innings was laced with three hits to fence. For three-times runner-up England, seeking to script their maiden ODI World Cup title, seamer Steven Finn was the most successful bowler, returning figures of 5/71, while Stuart Broad took two wickets.

Finch felt the love of his home crowd as the Victorian marked Valentine’s Day with the first hundred of the tournament.

Finch, dropped on nought by Chris Woakes off James Anderson, helped Australia off to a blistering start before Broad pulled England back into the match with two wickets in two balls to remove David Warner (22) and Shane Watson (0).

But Finch, well-supported by Bailey in a fourth-wicket stand of 146, kept going in front of an estimated crowd of more than 90,000.

Finch’s innings ended when he was run out by England captain Eoin Morgan’s direct hit from mid-off while going for a needless single. Bailey followed soon afterwards, playing on to Finn.

Finn takes hat-trick against Australia

England fast bowler Steven Finn took a bizarre hat-trick off the last three balls in Saturday's World Cup clash against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Like his team mates, Finn had come in for heavy punishment from Australia's batsmen, who smashed 342-9 from their 50 overs, but grabbed some consolation when he became the first English bowler to take a hat-trick at a World Cup.

With three deliveries left in the innings, Finn dismissed Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin for 31 when he top edged a catch to Stuart Broad at deep third man.

Off the next ball, Glenn Maxwell, who crossed during Haddin's deflection, departed for 66 when he was brilliantly caught by a diving Joe Root at long off.

Then off the final ball of the innings, Mitchell Johnson slapped the ball straight to Jimmy Anderson at mid-off, giving Finn an unexpected hat-trick and figures of 5-71.

Finn became just the seventh player to take a hat-trick at a World Cup.

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