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Melbourne - Australia skipper George Bailey praised match-winning centurion Aaron Finch and five-wicket star Mitchell Marsh after the World Cup co-hosts crushed England by 111 runs in their opening game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday.
Finch, playing in front of his home crowd which swelled to almost 85,000 people, smashed 135 after being dropped on nought as Australia piled up 342-9 in their 50 overs.
Marsh then claimed five for 33 as England slumped to a dispiriting loss despite James Taylor hitting an impressive 98 not out.
"We were very happy to bat first. There was a lot of anticipation, a big build-up, but we felt like we have a strong batting line-up and it was nice to get out there and use that track first," said Bailey.
"Aaron Finch rose to the occasion. That's what we're after from our top order. We want great innings and to turn them into match-winning knocks and that's definitely what we got today.
"Mitchell Marsh was outstanding, he broke the game open for us."
England skipper Eoin Morgan flopped again with the bat as he was out for his fourth duck in five innings.
He admitted that, with the exception of Taylor, England's batting had let them down as they chased a 343-run target.
"I think the score was probably above par even though the wicket was very good," said Morgan.
"Probably 310 was par, but we needed all three guns firing and the top order to come off for us to chase that.
"Our fielding was poor and our death bowling not on target at times. James was unlucky at the end not to get a hundred and he struck the ball cleanly."
