British opening batsmen Jason Roy recorded the highest-ever one-day international score by an England player as the tourists finally had something to celebrate with a five-wicket win over Australia on Sunday. After their wretched Ashes campaign, in which they were beaten 4-0, the tourists chased down a hefty Australian total at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to win with seven balls to spare in the opener of the five-match ODI series. Set 305 to win, Roy's daring 180 runs helped England make 308 for five.

The successful chase was also a record for a one-day international at the MCG, eclipsing Australia's 297 for four against England in 2011. Having been an onlooker for the Test series, Roy was an unlikely hero. But he rode his luck to produce a record in limited-overs cricket for England and also a new benchmark for a batsman at the MCG in a one-day international. The swashbuckling right-hander lived dangerously throughout his innings, charging along at better than a run a ball and reaching his half-century off only 32 balls.

He reached his hundred just moments later from 92 balls, with nine fours and three sixes. Fittingly, the 27-year-old passed team-mate Alex Hales's England record knock of 171 against Pakistan in 2016 with a chip just over the head of a despairing Australian fielder. He finally fell to Starc after skying one into the outfield, having faced 151 balls including 16 fours and five sixes. Roy was still coming to terms with his achievement after the match. Earlier, it was Aaron Finch's ninth one-day international century was the cornerstone of the Australian total of 304 for eight. Finch's 107 was backed by half-centuries for Mitchell Marsh (50) and Marcus Stoinis (60) as Australia recovered from a shaky start in which the tourists finally managed to get bogeyman Steve Smith cheaply.