MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) – Australia opened their Cricket World Cup with an emphatic 111-run win over England on Saturday, with Mitch Marsh claiming five wickets after Aaron Finch smashed an aggressive century to set the hosts on course for victory.
Finch scored 135 from 128 balls and Glenn Maxwell (66) and captain George Bailey (55) posted half centuries in front of a crowd of more than 84 000 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to guide Australia’s recovery from an early collapse to reach 342 for nine.
England’s chase barely got started before Mitchell Starc (2-47) claimed the wicket of Moeen Ali (10), then Marsh (5-33) ran through the top order.
In a bizarre end to the match, James Taylor (98 not out) had an lbw decision overturned on review by the third umpire, only for James Anderson to then be given out – also on review – at the other end.
The International Cricket Council later acknowledged that the umpires erred by referring the decision on Anderson for review. After Taylor’s initial decision was overturned, it should have been deemed a dead ball. Regardless, it wouldn’t have changed the outcome.
Australia 342-9 in 50 overs (Aaron Finch 135, Glenn Maxwell 66, George Bailey 55; Stuart Broad 2-66, Steven Finn 5-71). England 231 in41.5 overs (James Taylor 98 not out; Mitch Marsh 5-33, Mitchell Johnson 2-36, Mitchell Starc 2-47). Australia won by 111 runs.
