The 29-year-old Inglis, who was born in England, smashed an unbeaten 86-ball 120 as Australia chased down 351-8 in 47.3 overs to open their Group B account at Gaddafi Stadium.
The blistering performance from Inglis not only trumped England opener Ben Duckett's 143-ball 165 -- the highest individual score in event history -- but enthralled a near-capacity 31,000 weekend crowd.
Inglis carted six sixes and eight boundaries, including the winning maximum off express fast bowler Mark Wood.
Australia were struggling at 27-2 with Travis Head (six) and skipper Steve Smith (five) falling to Jofra Archer and Wood respectively.
Matthew Short, who hit a 66-ball 63 with nine boundaries and a six, added 95 for the third wicket with Marnus Labuschagne (47 off 45 balls with five fours) but spinners Liam Livingstone and Adil Rashid dismissed both.
With Australia still needing an imposing 215 in 27.4 overs, Alex Carey and Inglis brought the chase back on track by adding an invaluable 146 for the fifth wicket.
Carey, dropped on 49 by Archer off Rashid, finally holed out off pace bowler Brydon Carse after a fighting 63-ball 69 with 70 still needed.
Inglis brought up his hundred with two sixes off Carse and one against Archer, reaching the three-figure mark off 77 balls.
Glenn Maxwell played a trademark fiery knock of 32 not out from 15 balls with two sixes and four boundaries as Australia took 226 runs off England's pace trio of Wood, Archer and Carse.
Scores:
England 351-8 (B. Duckett 165, J. Root 68; B. Dwarshuis 3-66, A. Zampa 2-64, M. Labuschagne 2-41) v Australia 356-5 in 47.3 overs (J. Inglis 120 not out, A. Carey 69, M. Short 63, M. Labuschagne 47)