Shaun Marsh and Aaron Finch’s record-breaking opening stand helped Australia tune up for their one-day series against England with a 200-run thrashing of minnows Scotland in Edinburgh on Tuesday.
Marsh (151) and Finch (148) teamed up for the highest ever Australian ODI first-wicket partnership as the tourists posted a mammoth first-innings total of 3-362 – the highest score against Scotland by any side.
In response, a Scottish side featuring several amateurs was bowled out for 162, with Mitchell Johnson claiming 4-36.
After Scotland captain Preston Mommsen won the toss and chose to bowl, openers Finch and Marsh showed the Scots no mercy front of around 2000 spectators at Grange Cricket Club.
While they were kept to a modest start by some tight Scottish bowling, the duo rarely looked troubled in a 246-run partnership.
It broke a 27-year-old record for the highest Australian opening partnership in ODIs, previously 212 set by Shaun’s father Geoff Marsh and David Boon against India in 1986.
Following on from his world record Twenty20 knock against England last week, Finch carried his form into the 50-over format.
His 148 from 116 balls gave him a first one-day century and he had never scored more than 38 in seven previous ODI appearances.
Finch, 26, was overlooked for the Champions Trophy after a poor summer but has now cemented his spot and looms as a danger man against England.
Unlike Finch’s explosive T20 innings of 156 from 63 balls in Southampton last week – where he blasted a record 14 sixes and the highest score in T20 internationals – his innings on Tuesday was more about patience and restraint, at least early on.
He brought up his century off 96 balls and saved most of his trademark “Finch hitting” until after the milestone in an innings that featured seven sixes.
Finch was caught by Freddie Coleman on Majid Haq’s bowling, falling just short of becoming the eighth Australian to score 150 in an ODI.
Marsh, elevated to opener in the absence of the dropped David Warner, later achieved the feat after playing a supporting role to Finch for much of the innings.
The 30-year-old, who missed selection in the Ashes, upped the ante after Finch’s dismissal and reached his third one-day century from 128 balls.
He needed only another 21 deliveries to race to 151 before being caught by Gordon Goudie off Ian Wardlaw’s bowling.
Wardlaw (2-69) took dismissals in successive balls when Shane Watson (37 off 24) was out in almost exactly the same fashion.
Set a mammoth total, the Scots were 2-1 after Johnson and Clint McKay made early breakthroughs.
Matt Machin (39), Goudie (24), Calum MacLeod (24) and Haq (24) added some respectability to the hosts’ score, with Fawad Ahmed claiming his first ODI wicket when Michael Clarke took a catch at slipper to dismiss MacLeod.
Former Pakistan refugee Ahmed had 1-39 from his 10 overs and could have had another wicket with Clarke putting down a catch at slip in his first over.
James Faulkner had 2-32.
Australia head to Leeds on Wednesday ahead of the first of five one-dayers on Friday.