Moeen Ali and his England team-mates got off to a losing start in the World Cup when they went down by 111 runs to Australia in a day-night Pool 'A' clash in Melbourne.
Worcestershire all-rounder Moeen and his colleagues will now look to bounce back in Friday's clash with the other host nation in New Zealand on Friday.
Moeen, in his first ever World Cup appearance, conceded 60 runs in his nine overs after being introduced into the attack as the fifth bowler at an economy rate of 6.66 runs per over.
But all of the England attack proved expensive although Steven Finn finished with 5-71 after a burst of late wickets as Australia amassed 342-9 in their 50 overs.
Aaron Finch was the Australian mainstay with 135 off 128 balls with three sixes and 12 fours after the home side had been 70-3 after being put into bat.
Finch and skipper George Bailey (55) added 146 for the fourth wicket.
Late fireworks were then applied by Glenn Maxwell, with 66 off 40 balls with 11 fours, and Brad Haddin with 31 from 14 deliveries.
Moeen collected successive boundaries off Josh Hazlewood when England launched their reply, over and through cover, in the fourth over.
But after making 10 from 13 balls the 27-year-old mistimed a pull at Mitchell Starc and was caught at mid on by Bailey with 25 on the board.
Mitchell Marsh then destroyed the England innings.
He picked up the wickets of Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Joe Root – the latter two in successive deliveries – skipper Eoin Morgan and Jos Butter aided by some outstanding catching.
England were eventually bowled out for 231 with James Taylor unbeaten on 98 and Marsh returning figures of 5-33.
