England's James Taylor could not score his maiden century as fortune went against him during the second match of ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 against Australia today.

While the top-order collapsed so easily, lower-middle-order batsmen -- James Taylor and Chris Woakes -- were trying to put on the final stance against the host nation at Melbourne Cricket Ground today.

On 42nd over Taylor was given LBW by umpire Aleem Dar off a delivery of Josh Hazlewood on his 98 runs.

England however took a review of the decision and found it was a Not Out. The irony was lying somewhere else. While running between the wicket, Glenn Maxwell threw the ball to the stumps and run out James Anderson.

Taylor remained not out with just two runs away from the ton. England went all out for 231 runs by 41.5 overs.

Aussie bowler Mitchell Marsh hauled five wickets, devastating England batsmen.

Australia managed to put a target of 343 runs with Aaron Finch's ton in front of their archrival England in the second match of ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 while Steven Finn showed his magic spell at the end of the innings.

Earlier, England won the toss and elected to field first.

Despite three quick wickets of the top-order, opener Finch held the helm of the Aussie innings and scored 135 runs off 128 deliveries, decorated with 12 fours and three sixes. George Bailey supported Finch with a sensible half-century, scoring 55 runs off 69 balls.

After Finch was run out and English pacer Steven Finn bowled out Bailey, middle-order George Maxwell supported by Mitchell Marsh scored a fantastic slog innings, scoring 66 runs off only 40 balls.

Brad Haddin added 31 runs off 14 deliveries to the Aussie scorecard.

Pacer Finn picked up five wickets garnished with a hat-trick at the last three balls, however, his economy rate was high, 7.10. Another English fast bowler Stuart Broad picked up two wickets while Chris Woakes picked only one.

England Team

M Ali, I Bell, G Ballance, J Root, E Morgan*, J Taylor, J Buttler (wk), C Woakes, S Broad, S Finn and J Anderson.

Australia Team

D Warner, A Finch, S Watson, S Smith, G Bailey*, G Maxwell, M Marsh, B Haddin (wk), M Johnson, M Starc and J Hazlewood.