Former Hampshire batsman Glenn Maxwell struck a magnificent century but in a losing cause after Ian Bell posted England's highest ever one-day score.

Bell, who was only recalled to open after previous captain Alastair Cook was axed before Christmas, lit up the last warm-up match before the Carlton Mid Tri-Series, with a majestic 187 against an Australian Prime Minister's XI.

His innings included 20 boundaries and three sixes in a marathon 145-ball stay.

Bell's stunning effort may not have come in a one-day international, where England's high watermark remains Robin Smith's 167 from 1993, but it still ranks as a wonderful knock that underpinned a crushing total of 391 for six.

That matched England's best previous score in the 50-over game, made against Bangladesh in 2005 when Andrew Strauss and Paul Collingwood hit centuries.

Bell's innings was fitting for a batsman of his pedigree, paced to near perfection and containing only one real half-chance on 68 when a grass-level opportunity was not gathered.

He reached 50 in 55 balls, 100 in 102 and then allowed himself to open up, clearing the ropes three times as he upped the ante in the closing overs.

It would have been apt for him to carry his bat through the innings, or even reached the 200-run landmark, but he perished off the penultimate ball of the innings, drilling Jason Behrendorff to home skipper Chris Rogers.

When England touched down in Australia, it seemed uncertain as to who would open alongside Moeen Ali - Bell or the more explosive Alex Hales - but the Warwickshire man made an emphatic statement in Canberra.

Moeen made a thrilling 71 of his own, with number three James Taylor making the same score in a more stately fashion.

There was little suggestion that England would enjoy such dominance in the early exchanges, when Australia World Cup quick Pat Cummins hurried up Bell in the first over.

A loose chip towards mid-on might have done for Bell, but it landed short and he soon responded with an imperious cover drive off the same bowler.

Moeen had a similarly awkward moment with just two to his name, turning Behrendorff to short mid-wicket where Glenn Maxwell failed to cling on to a one-handed catch.

As the team's nominated aggressor, Moeen continued to attack - and was fortunate that one of a handful of aerial shots did not go to hand.

One big effort even saw him loose control of his bat, which sailed off towards leg-slip as the batsmen scurried a single.

He successfully hit himself into form in short order, and was quickly timing the ball beautifully, striking six boundaries in nine balls off Simon Mackin and Behrendorff.

His half-century occupied just 29 deliveries and he was not done yet, going after David Moody and bringing up England's 100 in 13 overs with a whipped four off Maxwell.

His thrilling stay finally ended when he hoisted a Maxwell full toss high to long-on, where Papua New Guinea all-rounder Lega Siaka held on.

Bell had been playing a quiet, supporting role to that point and continued accumulating once Taylor joined him.

Their partnership, which was ultimately worth 141 at almost a run a ball, was low key but clinically effective.

The pair showed none of the ruthless aggression of Moeen, but stroked the home bowlers around the park without trouble as the scoreboard continued moving along.

At the 30-over stage, England were handsomely set on 201 for one.

With no signs of life from the home attack, Bell was fully focused on reaching three figures and milked the bowling without taking any undue risks.

He eventually reached the mark, celebrating in modest style in keeping with his innings.

The PM's side shipped 47 runs in the batting powerplay - 18 of them off Cummins' wayward sixth over - with England on 280 for two going into the last 10.

Joe Root came and went for 13, clipping David Moody to mid-wicket, but Bell would not be moved.

He hit the first six of the innings in the 43rd over, belting a Maxwell full toss over mid-wicket, and added maximums off Mackin and Behrendorff before his late departure.

Jos Buttler also showed off his six-hitting skills, with two mighty blows off Moody in a breezy 25.

 The Prime Minister's XI had almost no chance of mounting a chase, but with premier Tony Abbott in attendance they still had pride to play for.

Cameron Bancroft enjoyed one clean-hit six off Chris Woakes but was gone two balls later when the all-rounder snuck one through and clipped off stump.

That brought together a pair of Australian internationals in captain Rogers and Maxwell, but the pair were together just four overs.

Rogers, having been dropped by Taylor the previous ball, top-edged Chris Jordan straight over his own head halfway to the boundary rope.

It looked to have enough legs to clear the sprinting Buttler but England's wicketkeeper made great ground and finished with a diving catch.

At 10 overs, the score read 50 for two.

mfl Page 4: 08:55 Maxwell was primed to make a much better impression, though.

The all-rounder, nicknamed 'The Big Show', took an immediate liking to Jordan who followed up a shaky second over with a dire third.

Maxwell took 21 off it, including three boundaries and an effortless six over fine leg.

He raced to 50 in 32 balls and continued the counter-attack with back-to-back fours off spinner James Tredwell.

England rotated their bowlers and enjoyed some success when Moeen persuaded Peter Handscomb to play on for 16.

But it was the other end that England needed to lock down, with Maxwell continuing to punish anything remotely wayward.

Ravi Bopara's medium-pace was just too inviting and when Moeen attempted to flight one, Maxwell simply took a couple of steps and cracked him over the top.

He was on 97 when he took on the first ball of Bopara's fifth over and despatched it into the stands over long-on.

His hundred came in 67 balls - 35 fewer than Bell's - and suddenly the result was far from wrapped up.

Maxwell continued to give England headaches with his expansive strokeplay, even taking the chasing side 18 ahead of England's 25-over mark.

The batting powerplay was called in the 28th over and appeared to represent the decisive moment.

Nine runs off the returning Woakes were inconclusive but when Maxwell hit Stuart Broad for three successive boundaries - one streaky edge and two dominant strikes into the unguarded off-side - the balance seemed to finally tip.

Broad had other ideas, however, hitting back with successive dots before having Maxwell caught by Taylor at gully off a second thick edge.

It was a chance for England to gather their composure and regain control of proceedings at 216 for four.