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ICC Cricket World Cup 2019: Bowlers steer Aussies to comfortable win; secure place in semis

England will currently need to win both their remaining games in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 against India and New Zealand to guarantee their selection in the next phase of the tournament.

ICC Cricket World Cup 2019: Bowlers steer Aussies to comfortable win; secure place in semis

Australia's Jason Behrendorff (C) is congratulated by teammates on his five wicket haul as umpire Sundaram Ravi (L) looks on during the 2019 Cricket World Cup group stage match between England and Australia at Lord's Cricket Ground in London on June 25, 2019. (Photo by SAEED KHAN / AFP)

Mitchell Starc bowled an excellent yorker to dismiss the ‘danger man’ Ben Stokes while Jason Behrendorff returned with his career-best figures to secure Australia a spot in the semi-finals with a 64-run victory over hosts England in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 match at the Lord’s on Tuesday.

Starc first reduced the mighty English batting order to 26/3 with the wickets of Joe Root and captain Eoin Morgan as the hosts set out to chase 286 for win after the Aussies posted 285/7 in their quota of 50 overs.

Be that as it may, Stokes (89) fought hard to get England over the line with a splendid innings before Starc, back for his subsequent spell, castled the England all-rounder with a perfect off-stump yorker.

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The English all-rounder kicked his bat away in misery and disappointment as his wicket brought the end to his team’s fightback as England collapsed for 221 in 44.4 overs.

England will currently need to win both their remaining games in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 against India and New Zealand to guarantee their selection in the next phase of the tournament. Australia, meanwhile, have 12 points from seven matches. England are placed fourth with eight points in their kitty from the same number of matches.

England were headed towards a terrible start when Jason Behrendorff castled James Vince in only the second delivery. Starc then got the crucial wickets of Root, caught plumb in front, and Morgan, who top-edged a bouncer to Pat Cummins at fine leg.

Jonny Bairstow did not keep going long, holing out to Cummins at midwicket off Behrendorff with England tottering at 53/4. Stokes and Jos Buttler then shared a 71-run stand for the fifth wicket before Usman Khawaja took a splendid catch at square leg to send Buttler back in the pavilion.

Wickets at crucial moments did not help England to resurrect and chase down the total in this important World Cup game.

Earlier, Australia squandered a good start to give England bowlers a chance to hook back runs eventually ending at 285/7. Captain Aaron Finch scored 100 off 116 balls – his innings bound with 11 fours and two sixes.

Finch and David Warner shared a 123-run opening stand in just 22.4 overs before Moeen Ali had Warner caught by Joe Root.

From 185/3 in the 36th over when Finch was dismissed, the Aussies managed only 100 runs for the loss of four wickets in 15-odd overs.

For England, Chris Woakes returned with the best figures but to no avail.

Brief scores: Australia: 285/7 in 50 overs (Aaron Finch 100, David Warner 53; Chris Woakes 2/46); England: 221/10 in 44.4 overs (Ben Stokes 89, Jason Behrendorff 5/44, Mitchell Starc 4/43)

Player of the match: Aaron Finch

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