Australia outclass England by 64 runs on way to semifinals

It was reminiscent of the Australian swagger of yore as Aaron Finch’s pacers bossed arch-rivals England on their way to the World Cup semifinals with a 64-run victory here Tuesday.

While Australia became the first team to reach the semifinalsof the showpiece, England’s defeat, their second straight following thestunning reverse to Sri Lanka, made their path to the last four way tougherthan it was not less than a week ago.

   

Captain Finch rose to the occasion with his second centuryof the tournament before England rallied to stop Australia at 285 for seven intheir blockbuster showdown.

In reply, England found the left-arm pace duo of JasonBehrendorff (5/-43) and Mitchell Starc (4/44) too hot to handle, capitulatingto 221 all out in 44.4 overs. Ben Stokes waged a lonely battle for his 89 off115 balls. England were off to the worst possible start, losing James Vince inonly the second ball of the innings.

Bigger blows awaited the hosts as the Lord’s saw indisbelief the quick departure of the in-from Joe Root followed by skipper EoinMorgan. At 26 for three in the sixth over, England were staring down the barrelagainst a side that is historically known to raise its game on the biggeststage, more so when the stakes are high.

England were pushed further down the abyss when JonnyBairstow was dismissed by Jason Behrendorff, making it 53 for four in the 14thover.

With a 71-run partnership for the fifth wicket, Stokes andJos Buttler somewhat rescued the innings, but the wicketkeeper-batsman got outafter making 25 off 27 balls. The match was as good as over when Starc bowledStokes with one of the tournament’s finest yorkers to leave the home teamreeling at 177 for six.

Earlier, comfortably placed at 185 for three in the 36thover, Australia were headed for a 300-plus total, but lost the plot due toEngland’s fine comeback and lack of discretion on part of most of the batsmenthat followed Finch and David Warner (53). Sent into bat after Morgan called itright at the toss, Australia were given another fine start by their in-fromopeners, who took them to 123 in the 23rd over, when leading scorer Warner gotout.

Dropped on 15, Finch (100) went on to make his 15th ODIcentury, off 115 balls, but got out in the very next ball to leave the responsibilityof finishing the innings in style on Steve Smith’s shoulders. Smith (38) battedpositively until he was sent back by Chris Woakes, while Alex Carey smashed 38off 27 balls, but the defending champions seemed to have lost the plot with thewickets of Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis.

Maxwell hit Jofra Archer for a four before sending histhunderbolt over long on and into the crowd for a six. But Maxwell did not lastlong, and Australia were 228 for five, when Stoinis was run out in the 42ndover due to the combined efforts of Jonny Bairstow, Adi Rashid and Jos Buttler.This was after Warner and Finch shared another 100-plus stand for thefirst-wicket. It was the pair’s fifth successive partnership of 50 or more atthe tournament, a World Cup record.Finch found the fence 11 times during his116-ball knock and cleared it twice, with Moeen Ali being at the receiving endon both occasions.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

14 + two =