England's attempt to regain some confidence in Tuesday night's Twenty20 match could hardly have gone worse with Australia scoring a world-record 5-221 to win by 77 runs.

Adam Gilchrist hit a dazzling 48 and captain Ricky Ponting smashed a brisk 47 before a sell-out crowd of 35,628.

England limped to 9-144 from its 20 overs in reply.

Tasmanian speedster Ben Hilfenhaus, 23, picked up 2-16 including the scalps of Ian Bell for 22 and Paul Collingwood for five in a fine international debut as veteran Glenn McGrath was rested from the match.

Fresh from last week's 5-0 Ashes demolition of England, Australia warmed up for the tri-series of one-dayers against England and New Zealand by hitting England's bowlers to all parts of the SCG, blasting 14 sixes.

Australia's innings total beat the previous world record held by Ricky Ponting's side of five for 214 against New Zealand in Auckland in February 2005.

Gilchrist's 29-ball innings included five sixes and two fours while Ponting was equally devastating, smashing 47 from 26 balls.

World Cup prospect Cameron White (40 not out) was man of the match. White and the Queensland entertainer Andrew Symonds (39 not out) shared an unbroken stand of 66 in less than six overs for the sixth wicket.

With the sell-out crowd roaring for England wickets, the fans didn't have to wait long with Ed Joyce (1) and sacked skipper Andrew Flintoff (0) falling in the first eight balls.

Victorian paceman Shane Harwood made the most of his chance at international level, having Flintoff caught at square leg then throwing the stumps down from the third-man boundary to run out Kevin Pietersen for six.

It completed a poor game for the controversial Pietersen, whose fielding in the deep was appalling at times, failing to run in to attempt a catch then mocking the crowd and finally dropping a simple chance in the final over of Australia's innings.

Captain Michael Vaughan, who missed the Test series with a knee injury, was left to rescue the innings but was lbw to Symonds for 27 at 4-54.

Jamie Dalrymple with 32 and Paul Nixon's unbeaten 31 added some small element of respectability to the innings.

Australia was without injured paceman Brett Lee (chest infection) and Mitchell Johnson (minor abdominal strain) and both will be assessed later this week ahead of Friday's one-day series opener against England at the MCG.

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