England entered their first World Cup final since 1992 decimating five-time champions Australia by eight wickets after a fearless knock from Jason Roy here on Thursday.
Chasing 224 in a World Cup semifinal was not expected to bea walk in the park but England made it just that with an aggressive approachthat has become synonymous with them over the past four years.
Openers Roy (85 off 65) and Jonny Bairstow (34 off 43)shared a 124-run stand, their fourth century stand in a row, to do bulk of thejob for their team after the bowlers put up an all-round show to dismissAustralia for 223 despite a valiant effort from Steve Smith (85).
Joe Root (49 not out off 46) and captain Eoin Morgan (45 notout off 39) knocked off the remaining runs to complete a famous win in just32.1 overs. England, who lost three World Cup finals in 1979, 1987 and 1992,now have a golden opportunity to win the elusive crown with a victory againstNew Zealand at Lord’s on Sunday.
As India experienced in the first semifinal, chasing even amodest target has proved to be tricky in the tournament but England batsmen,especially Roy, made it look easy with their delightful stroke play.
Roy, who was unlucky to be given out caught behind when thereplays suggested otherwise, was unstoppable from the word go. He got goingwith a couple of off-drives before collecting boundaries at will. He wasexpectedly angry with the umpire’s decision and could be penalised ahead of thefinal.
The early swing that could have troubled the openers was notthere, allowing to Roy to go for his shots against the likes of Mitchell Starcand Jason Behrendorff. His entertaining knock comprised nine fours and fivessixes including three off part-timer Smith.
What was remarkable that England did not change theirapproach after the dismissals of Bairstow and Roy who left England sittingpretty at 147 for two in the 20th over. Steamrolling Australia in a big game isa rare occurrence but the hosts managed to do that. It was Australia’s firstever loss in a World Cup semifinal.
Earlier, a hostile bowling performance from England pacersbroke the backbone of Australian batting.
Courtesy Smith, Australia got something to bowl at after afiery opening spell from Chris Woakes (3/20) and Jofra Archer (2/32) had themgasping for breath at 14 for three.
The gutsy right-hander got some help from Alex Carey (46 off70) and Mitchell Starc (29 off 36) in posting a fighting total. Besides theEngland pacers, leggie Adil Rashid (3/54) made a significant contribution bytaking crucial wickets in the middle overs.
Australia skipper Aaron Finch, who opted to bat, was thefirst to go after Archer trapped in front of the stumps with a full lengthball. Woakes too was breathing fire from the other end as he got one to jumpoff a length, surprising the in-form David Warner (9) who ended up edging it tofirst slip.
Peter Handscomb, playing his first game of the tournament,joined Smith in the middle but lasted only 12 balls. Woakes got another one tonip back in off the seam and Handscomb played all over it to have his stumpsrattled.
Smith now had an arduous task of resurrecting the inningsand he found support from Carey, who played a brave knock despite being hit onthe chin off a sharp Archer bouncer. Such was the impact of the blow that hishelmet flew off and blood started dripping from his chin, so much so that hehad to apply bandage around his face.