Skipper Eoin Morgan produced a lone hand with the bat to lift a rattled England to 234 all out in the opening one-day international against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday.
In the first match of the triangular series, which also features India, Morgan won the toss and elected to bat.
His sixth one-day century for England helped the tourists put on a defendable total before being dismissed in 47.5 overs.
Morgan made 121 from 136 balls and was the only England batsman to score over 30.
Having taken over the captaincy from Alastair Cook ahead of the upcoming World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, the century ended a dry run for Morgan.
It was his first century in his past 20 one-day innings, which had included just one prior half-century.
He brought up his ton by lofting James Faulkner (4-35) over cover from the 127th ball he faced, having hit nine fours and two sixes.
Morgan had to save the innings after a top-order collapse and strode to the wicket with his side in deep trouble at 12 for three.
The home side struck with the very first ball, with Ian Bell trapped lbw by left-armer Mitchell Starc for a golden duck.
Worse was to come for England when Bell's replacement at the crease, James Taylor, was also adjudged lbw for a duck two balls later.
Morgan arrived after Joe Root was caught by Shane Watson from the bowling of Pat Cummins for just five.
The captain was eventually the ninth man to fall, in the push for late runs, holing out to Maxwell at deep mid-wicket from the bowling of Starc in the 48th over for 121.
The England innings was wrapped up one ball later, when Steven Finn was clean bowled by a Starc yorker.
Starc finished the innings with 4-42 from 8.5 overs.
Source: AFP
