CWC 2019 Second Semi Final Played at Birmingham On 11 July
England Vs Australia
England 226/2 in 32.1 overs ( JJ Roy 85, JE Root 49* , EJG Morgan 45* , JM Bairstow 34) beat Australia 223 All Out in 49 Overs ( SPD Smith 85, AT Carey 46, MA Starc 29, GJ Maxwell 22, CR Woakes 3/20 , AU Rashid 3/54, JC Archer 2/32) by 8 wickets
Player of the Match: Chris Woakes
Rewriting few records all guns blazing England bruised, battered and humiliated reigning champions Australia in a one sided semi final played at Birmingham yesterday. Australia batting first were blown again by hostile and penetrative bowling of English bowlers. Australia got bundled out for 223 in 49 0vers. On the same wicket where English bowlers ruled the roost, Australian vaunted bowling attack was ruthlessly punished by English batsmen.
England raced to 226/2 cruising home by 8 wickets. England stormed into the final its fourth in WC history. Earlier in the other semi final, New Zealand shocked another pre-tournament favorite India in a closely contested low scoring match. CWC 2019 is now set to welcome a new champion.
Vanquished Australia would not in fact return down under. They will stay back for the Ashes series. It was the first time Australia lost semi final of World Cup proving it the 8th time unlucky for them surprisingly in the one-sided affair awful Australia proved no match for all round England.
Winning the toss and electing to bat, Australia immediately ran into deep trouble against very hostile and accurate English pace attack. Woakes and Archer bowled fast and on the right channel. Inform Finch and Warner got swept away by Woakes and Archer breathing venom. It was 1 for 4, 2/10 in no time.
Peter Handscomb drafted into the team in place of injured Khawaja had no clue and was seen groping in the dark. He was cleaned out in no time by Woakes making it 3/14. Steve Smith and Alex Carey coming in the rescue mission fought tooth and nail. Their 113 runs slow but steady long vigil at the wicket salvaged some Aussie pride.
Carey ultimately fell to the guile of leg spinner Adil Rashid scoring 46. None other than Maxwell and Starc could stay with brave Smith for any length of period. Smith also was brilliantly run out by a direct throw of Buttler after he scored 85. Australia posted well below par 223 which appeared at least 50-60 too low to create any contest.
Yet on a wicket where English bowlers ruled Starc, Cummins and Behendorff were expected to test English batting. But from the very start Roy and Bairstow were in murderous mood. They blasted Australian attack all over the park. First wicket partnership cruised to 124 in no time. Roy floated to 85 in 65 deliveries striking 9 fours and 5 sixes.
Bairstow while watching the Lungi Dance of his partner from the other end also scored quick fire 34. When they finally got out Root (49*) and Morgan (45*) raced across the finishing tape with an unbroken 89 runs third wicket partnership. Australia left the fortress with hands up without any fight. It was uncharacteristic of Australian cricket surrendering without fight.
England with winning momentum will appear at Lords for its first glory in the sun against another team from down under New Zealand. CWC will witness a new champion. Australia was in fact not given any opportunity by England for regrouping and fighting back. It was clinical execution of well crafted plan of annihilation of Australian cricket pride.
BDST: 0918 HRS, JULY 12, 2019
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