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Chilly hot Australia clinically disposed off England

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Update: 2019-06-26 09:28:43
Chilly hot Australia clinically disposed off England

ICC World Cup Match 32 Played at Lords, London on 25

Australia Vs England

Brief Scorecard:

Australia 285/7 ( Aaron Flinch 100, DA Warner 53, SPD Smith 38, AT Carey 38* , UT Khawaja 23,CR Woakes 2/46) beat England 211 All Out in 44.4 Overs( BA Stokes 89, JC Buttler 29,  JM Bairstow 27, CR Woakes 26, AU Rashid 25, JPBehendroff 5/43, M Starc 4/44) by 64 runs.

Player Of the Match: Aaron Flinch

Reigning Champion Australia’s HEXA mission gathered momentum being the first team to confirm a berth for the semi final. At Lords under cloudy sky riding on express pace batteries JP Behendroff (5/43) and M Starc (4/44) Australia pushed host and traditional rival England’s world cup dream to uncertain territory beating them by 64 runs.

Australia with 12 points in 7 matchesare placed at the top of the table. England’s fate for semi final now hangs in the balance with 8 points in 7 matches. They have to win their matches against India and New Zealand to get through. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are breathing on their shoulders. Even Pakistan and West Indies have theoretical possibility of getting through.

The very exciting global tournament has progressed about two thirds of its path.32 of the 45 pool matches have already been played. Yet apart from Australia the position of no team for the semi final has been confirmed. New Zealand and India are in a bit comfortable position. Any them from England, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka , West Indies and Pakistan can qualify depending on the result of the remaining 13 matches. Fortunately rain which dampened some earlier matches has cease.

Australia and England are traditional rivals. Few days after the world cup they will lock horn for traditional ashes series. Any Australia England match anywhere in the world creates usual excitement and draw capacity crowd.  It was no different. England in the recent past had one sided result against Australia. But Australia never lost to England in World cup.

Yesterday at Lords clinically executing their plans Australia destroyed English hopes. On a seaming condition under cloudy sky vaunted English pacers failed to utilize the condition. They bowled at wrong length and channel. Fielding also looked rugged. Aussie openers Flinch and Warner surviving some early nervous moments laid a solid foundation of 123 for the first wicket. Capatin Flinch scored yet another century (100) , Warner scored 53. Smith (38), AT Carey (36*) and UT Khawaja (23) also contributed as Australia put up an impressive 285/7 on a wicket no so easy for batting. Australia played English fast bowlers Archer and Wood very well. Woakes (2/46)   was the only English bowler earning respect from Australian batsmen. Spinners M Ali and Adil Rashid also failed to impress.

The English response was blown away by the very accurate and penetrative pace attack of Australia .Behendroff and Starc bowled at pace at right length and line .Vince, Root, Morgan and Bairstow were blown away .England was reduced to 4/53 by the 14th over. From there on Stokes and Buttler tried to retrieve adding 71 in the 5th wicket partnership. But once Buttler was removed even the best of Stokes (89) did not prove enough to challenge Australia set target. Behendroff (5/43) and Starc (4/44) budled England all out 221. Australia won huge and handsome by 64 runs.

England has matches against strong India and New Zealand. They have to win both to proceed. These matches will not all be easy for them. Bangladesh also has two matches against Pakistan and India. They look capable of winning both. If England loose both and Bangladesh win one Bangladesh will have realistic chance unless matches Sri Lnka and Pakistan win all their remaining matches.  These make all matches from now very interesting.

It appears from above that only Afghanistan and South Africa are out of the race. Australia only has ensured a place among the top four. Other 7 teams have theoretical possibility of capturing the other three spots among the elite group of four. Net run rate may play a vital role and also head to head result. There are chances of teams getting locked at 9 points.

Australia winning big against England yesterday has pushed host England near the edge.  Pakistan and Sri Lanka beating England earlier complicated the misery of the aspiring host. They now really have to pull up their socks and plot implementable plots for winning against New Zealand and India. A very difficult ask.  Australia can work on appropriate combination over the next two matches. They played Nathan Lyon yesterday which was a positive move. Australia is gaining momentum at the right moment though they are not yet at their top gear.

BDST: 0929 HRS, JUNE 26, 2019

AH

 

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