Moeen Ali scored only his second ODI century as England beat Scotland by 119 runs in Christchurch to record their first victory of the World Cup.
The Worcestershire man cracked 128 from 107 balls and shared a record opening stand of 172 with Ian Bell(54) to set England on their way to a morale-boosting win following back-to-back defeats.
Eoin Morgan’s side were always in control of the potential banana-skin contest, even though they did not fully exploit the foundation laid by the openers in reaching 303 for eight.
It was a target that proved beyond Scotland, still searching for a first World Cup win in their third visit to the tournament, as they were bowled out for 184 in 42.2 overs.
England stuck with the same XI that were so powerfully crushed by New Zealand on Friday as those involved were given the chance at redemption.
The batsmen were handed the first opportunity to try and repair their reputations, after being skittled for 123 on Friday, with Scotland skipper Preston Mommsen opting to bowl on a cloudy morning in Christchurch.
There was some early movement and Moeen survived a chance on seven when Freddie Coleman was late on getting down to a chance at cover.
But from there the England openers were untroubled as they cruised past the record England opening stand of 158 set by Dennis Amiss and Barry Wood at the first World Cup in 1975.
Moeen was far more aggressive as he thumped Josh Davey for six shortly after his reprieve and then welcomed spinner Majid Haq with another towering blow en-route to a 39-ball half-century.
By contrast Bell crept along, apparently setting himself to bat through the innings after England had failed to last the full 50 overs in their opening two defeats of the tournament.
Bell had only just managed to reach his fifty, from 80 balls, before Moeen was raising his bat for a century that required only 11 more balls.
The left-hander cracked Haq over the mid-wicket rope for his fourth six to bring up the landmark and England were seemingly coasting to a hefty total.
Even when Bell picked out short cover, when Richie Berrington returned to the attack, Moeen rattled along to surpass his best ODI score of 119 set in Sri Lanka last November.
But the 27-year-old's departure, when he lofted Haq to Coleman on the midwicket rope, set off a mini-collapse that held England back through the powerplay.
Gary Ballance chopped on from the first ball of the fielding restrictions and Joe Root quickly followed as he nibbled at Josh Davey delivery that seamed away.
Morgan used up 10 balls before he got off the mark as Scotland edged back by constricting England to 22 for two in the powerplay.
Scotland then missed an opportunity to dismiss Morgan on 11 when his pull just flew over Coleman, who was perhaps too far off the rope, but wicketkeeper Matthew Cross pulled off a fine stumping to end James Taylor's 17 from 26 balls.
Jos Buttler thrashed a quickfire 24 before holing out and then Morgan and Chris Woakes fell to steepling catches to leave Davey on a hat-trick in the final over.
Stuart Broad kept it out, but England's hopes of significant late acceleration never quite arrived as they returned 78 for four in the last 10 overs.
Former Scotland skipper Kyle Coetzer hit a half-century in Scotland's reply, but England were able to make breakthroughs at the other end.
Bell grassed a tough chance off Coetzer in Anderson's first over, but the right-armer struck in his next when Calum MacLeod charged only to edge behind.
Coleman drove Woakes' first delivery to Morgan at short cover before Steven Finn struck in his first over, catching Matt Machan's edge.
Coetzer, who was unwanted by Northamptonshire at the end of the season, produced some fine strokes to reach his fifty, from 64 balls, as Scotland reached 74 for three after 20 overs.
Scotland held slim hope while Coetzer and Mommsen combined in a 60-run stand until they fell in consecutive overs.
Mommsen swept Joe Root to deep square-leg, where Broad held a good catch diving forward, before Coetzer departed for 71 after lofting Moeen straight to Woakes.
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