Highlights, England vs Australia, ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 Match, Full Cricket Score: Finch, Behrendorff star in Australia's 64-run win

Aaron Finch , Australia skipper:  Very happy. We have played some good cricket so far. England are a standout side. They can take you apart with the ball and bat. Stokes can be brutal at times. Behrendorff bowled beautifully. Nathan Lyon, too, was brilliant. Did not get the rewards but was outstanding. Warner is playing very nicely. He was close to his best today.

Here is England captain, Eoin Morgan: A lot of today, we were outplayed. Thought we bowled well upfront. Australia played and missed a lot initially but built a good partnership, and us losing early wickets at the start wasn’t ideal.Finch played really well, capitalized on the start he got. The wicket was soft when we started, batting would have been a horrific decision. They dominated until the 25th but to restrict them to 280 was a good effort. For a long time it looked like they’d get 330. But to be 20 for 3 pegged us bad considerably. Given the circumstances it’s not hugely disappointed, our fate is in our own hands. Everything we need to turn around is quite simple, the basics have let us down, and hopefully we will improve on them moving forward.

It was all about the opening bowling today. England’s bowlers were all over Australia, but couldn’t take a wicket. Finch and Warner then prospered. Australia’s bowlers on the other hand took early wickets and almost derailed the chase from the start. Australia march on. They have New Zealand next on Saturday night in London.

It’s hard to believe that England’s campaign has imploded like this. They were cruising coming into this tournament. Now Australia go top of the table, though New Zealand could take that spot back with a win over Pakistan tomorrow. If New Zealand lose, Pakistan will stay well on track as a team that could knock England out of the finals. Who would have thought.

The pre-tournament favourites and hosts find themselves in more than a spot of bother with them requiring one win out of the two remaining games with three teams breathing down their necks. It doesn’t help their cause that their opponents both – India and New Zealand – are yet to be defeated in this tournament.

Aaron Finch, Man of the Match: Did not play too badly. It’s nice to get a hundred in a win. Woakes bowled one hell of a spell. Contributing to the team is more important. To set up a reasonable partnership with Davey (Warner) was nice.

Australia’s last four matches against England in ICC ODI World Cups:

Won, Lord’s, 2019*
Won, Melbourne, 2015
Won, North Sound, 2007
Won, Port Elizabeth, 2003

Australia win by 64 runs! 

At the halfway stage of the game, it looked Australia didn’t have enough on the board, but eversince the second ball of the chase by Jason Behrendorff that cannoned into James Vince’s middle stump, it was all Australia. Behrendorff with a five-wicket haul, Mitchell Starc claimed four and dismantled England. Ben Stokes gave a brief hope but Starc doused it with an absolute jaffa. England now in real danger of falling behind in the race of semi-final

ALL OUT! Adil Rashid becomes the last wicket to fall. Starc pitches this full on the off stump, he once again tries to dig the delivery to carve it away on the off side. It is a little too full this time around and he is unable to get the desired elevation. He lofts it to man at extra cover and that’s that. 
 

Adil Rashid c Stoinis b Starc 25(20)

FOUR! That’s a good shot! Full ball outside off and Rashid opens the face of the bat and lifts it over cover, the ball skims away from the boundary rider. Consecutive fours.

FOUR! Short ball from Starc, Rashid looks to pull, gets a top edge that flies over the wicket-keeper for a fortitutous boundary. Starc affords a smile.

Australian bowlers with a five-wicket haul against England in ICC ODI World Cups:

Gary Gilmour, Leeds, 1975
Andy Bichel, Port Elizabeth, 2003
Mitchell Marsh, MCG, 2015
Jason Behrendorff, Lord’s, 2019*

After 44 overs,England 213/9 ( Adil Rashid 17 , Mark Wood 1)

Jofra Archer doesn’t hang around long enough, becoming the fifth wicket of Jason Behrendorff, who caps off a sensational day at work with a three-run over. He ends with superb figures of 10-0-44-5. Mark Wood is the last man in for England.

OUT! Five-wicket haul for Jason Behrendorff! What a day he is having at the Home of Cricket. He waves the white ball to the crowds. Archer does manage to get bat on ball and he even connects it decently too, but straight to the man at long off. Australia need one more.

Jofra Archer c Warner b Behrendorff 1(4)

After 43 overs,England 210/8 ( Adil Rashid 16 , Jofra Archer 1)

Another fantastic over from Mitchell Starc, he goes round the stumps to Rashid, who misses out on those low full, that go past his off stump a couple times. Starc was aiming for that perfect yorker, he doesn’t get it but neither does he concede too many runs. Only three from it.

After 42 overs,England 207/8 ( Adil Rashid 14 , Jofra Archer 0)

Another over, another wicket for Behrendorff and Australia. He is closing on a five-wicket haul and Australia marching towards a win. Rashid gets the boundary after Woakes is caught by the teamwork of Maxwell and Finch in the deep. England need 79 off 48 balls with two wickets in hand.

FOUR! Behrendorff slips one down leg, that is picked up by Rashid sending the ball past fine leg fielder for a boundary.

OUT! Another one! It was the slower delivery from Behrendorff, that was right in the slot as well, Woakes sits on his knee and slogs it to deep mid wicket, where Maxwell, right at the edge of the ropes, takes the catch, but as he fears that he is losing his balance he relays it to Aaron Finch, who is circling in the vicinity. Finch takes the catch, but it was Maxwell’s calm under pressure that created the chance. Fourth wicket for Behrendorff, England lose their eighth.
 

 Woakes c Finch b Behrendorff 26(34)

After 41 overs,England 200/7 ( Chris Woakes 25 , Adil Rashid 8)

Round of polite applause ring around the Lord’s as England’s 200 comes up but the end is perhaps inevitable. Rashid does smash a six down the ground but if he is able to hit at least five of those in next three overs, England might start believing. Also, the possibility of that happening is lower than India missing out to reach the semi-finals. Lyon’s over costs nine runs.

SIX! Adil Rashid with the charge down the pitch and connects it well. Dispatches the ball over long on fielder for a maximum.

After 40 overs,England 191/7 ( Chris Woakes 23 , Adil Rashid 1)

Behrendorff comes into the attack and snuffs out the wicket of Moeen Ali, England’s slide continues. He struck a boundary before he edged it to Carey. England fans are devastated and have a good reason to be. Adil Rashid walks in at number 9.

OUT! Edged and taken! Mo Ali needs to start walking to the pavilion, Jason Behrendorff with a top notch delivery, pitched it right in the corridor of uncertainty. Hint of away movement after pitching and all Moeen can do is nick it to Carey

 Moeen Ali c Carey b Behrendorff 6(9)

After 39 overs,England 184/6 ( Chris Woakes 21 , Moeen Ali 2)

Mitchell Starc runs in to bowl his seventh over. He continues to clock close to 145 kmph. Woakes is able to take a single of the second ball, which is the only run that came from the over. England need 102 runs off 66 balls.

After 38 overs,England 183/6 ( Chris Woakes 20 , Moeen Ali 2)
 

Mooen Ali comes out to bat at number eight. England need a miracle and a half now to get back into this game. For now they have to be settled with six runs from Cummins’ over.

After 37 overs,England 178/6 ( Chris Woakes 18 , Moeen Ali 0)

Starc is called back into the attack. He has five overs remaining and will bowl five off the 14 oversremaining.The 50-run stand comes up for Stokes and Woakes, they do provide an outside chance for England but still it is tall task to overcome. ~This is it! Here’s where things start to get interesting.~ 

Starc has all but won the game for Australia with a screeching yorker to dismiss Ben Stokes.

While Finch and Warner have been duelling it out for the top of the World Cup runs list, Mitchell Starc and Jofra Archer are doing the same for wickets. Archer went to the top of the pile in the first innings, with his 1-56 taking him to 16. But Starc has blown past him in the second innings, with 3-31 taking him to 18.

Highest individual scores for England against Australia in an ODI World Cup match:

104 – Kevin Pietersen, North Sound, 2007
98* – James Taylor, Melbourne, 2015
89 – Ben Stokes, Lord’s, 2019*

OUT! BEN STOKES GONE! Mitchell Starc, you beauty! Straight and full, hits the base of the off stump and that’s perhaps the game for Australia. Hint of late inswing and that does the trick. Stokes is crestfallen, he drops his bat on the floor and kicks it in disgust.

 Stokes b Starc 89(115)

After 36 overs,England 173/5 ( Ben Stokes 88 , Chris Woakes 15)

Three fours in the over! Cummins has just had a nightmare over after conceding an unlucky 13 runs courtesy two fours from Stokes and one from Woakes. This must have eased England’s pressure.

FOUR! Woakes joins the party as he picks the length early and drives it towards the mid wicket region. These two are on fire, and look unstoppable.

FOUR! Stokes is hitting boundaries all ovcer the ground, and slams this one through the covers. Plays this down the ground and takes  advantage of the length ball.

FOUR! Stokes slams this through the point region, beats the fielder at sweeper cover. Stokes is in full form here and seems like he is not giving up.

After 35 overs,England 160/5 ( Ben Stokes 79 , Chris Woakes 11)

Lyon continues. Concedes just four runs off the over, as Woakes and Stokes score runs in singles this over. A much-needed over for Australia.

After 34 overs,England 156/5 ( Ben Stokes 77 , Chris Woakes 9)

Two fours in the over has given confidence back to the English duo of Stokes and Woakes. Nine runs off Cummins’ over as the hosts fight on.

FOUR! Stokes takes full advantage of Cummins’ short ball and slams a boundary to the gap between mid-wicket and mid-on.

FOUR! Cummins delivers an over-pitched delivery as Woakes clips this beautifully wide of mid on. A well-timed and placed shot from the all-rounder.

There’s a revealing statistic in itself – Ben Stokes just hit the first six of the innings, and it took until the 31st over. He followed it up with the second in quick time. But this is a team that hit 25 sixes against Afghanistan only a few days ago. They haven’t been game to play their own aggressive style, and now they’re trying to find a way to win with circumspection.

After 33 overs,England 147/5 ( Ben Stokes 73 , Chris Woakes 4)

Just two runs off Lyon’s excellent over. Stokes tries to play the reverse sweep in the last ball of the over, but finds Warner at short third man who puts up a diving effort to save important runs.

After 32 overs,England 145/5 ( Ben Stokes 72 , Chris Woakes 3)

Stoinis delivers a much-needed over after drinks following the ‘Stoke-storm’ in the previous over. Just four runs off it, all coming in the form of singles.

After 31 overs,England 141/5 ( Ben Stokes 70 , Chris Woakes 1)

An expensive over from Maxwell, courtesy two back to back sixes from Stokes. He slams the first high over square boundary, while he plays the slog sweep for the next maximum. This is just the motivation England needed as the teams take a drinks break. 12 from Maxwell’s over.

SIX! Stokes plays the pull shot, slams this over square leg and that brings a huge cheer among the fans!

After 30 overs,England 129/5 ( Ben Stokes 58 , Chris Woakes 1)

Stokes goes for a quick single after a slight defensive shot, and Woakes could have been run-out had Smith got the direct hit spot on. Needless to say, Stokes gets an important lifeline. Just one from Stonis’ over.

After 29 overs,England 128/5 ( Ben Stokes 57 , Chris Woakes 1)

Glenn Maxwell is introduced to the attack, while Chris Woakes gets off the mark. But, with the pressure now back on England, the required rate is almost climbing up to eight runs an over. Just three from the over.

After 28 overs,England 125/5 ( Ben Stokes 55 , Chris Woakes 0)

Just when everyone thought England were right back on track, Stoinis has provided the breakthrough for Australia at the right time. He removes Buttler courtesy a catch from Khawaja at deep square, and only three runs come from it. Chris Woakes joins Stokes in the middle.

WICKET! Buttler is caught by Khawaja at deep backward square off Stonis delivery. A length ball from Stoinis, and Buttler flicks it behind square, only t realise his big mistake. Buttler c Khawaja b Stoinis 25(27)

After 27 overs,England 123/4 ( Ben Stokes 53 , Jos Buttler (W) 25)

A good comeback over from Lyon. Four off it. Buttler picks up the extra-bounce and tries to go for a boundary, but Cummins puts a diving effort to save a couple of runs.

After 26 overs,England 117/4 ( Ben Stokes 51 , Jos Buttler (W) 22)

England are finally getting back on track. Stokes has scored a well-deserved fifty, coming in a very tough time, whereas Buttler finishes the over with a boundary which goes towards the mid-on fence. Eight runs off Stoinis’ over.

FOUR! Buttler takes adavatage of the over-pitched delivery from Stoinis and the ball races towards mid-on.

Ben Stokes reaches his 50, and the rebuild continues. But there is so far to go. What England need from Jos Buttler is the kind of performance he produced against Australia last year in Manchester. Australia only made 205 that day, but they England 27 for 4, and then later 86 for 6. But Buttler was still there, and batted patiently and long to make 110 not out with the tail and guide his team home. It’s a taller target today, but also not as bad a start. Buttler can smash the 50-ball hundreds, now he has to craft one under pressure.

FIFTY! A well-deserved fifty for Stokes, who gets this one under real pressure.

After 25 overs,England 109/4 ( Ben Stokes 49 , Jos Buttler (W) 16)

Stokes begins the over with a boundary,and those are the only runs coming in the over.Stokes plays this one down the ground as Finch at mid-on races towards to save a boundary, which goes in vain.

FOUR! Stokes beats Finch at mid-on on this occassion

After 24 overs,England 105/4 ( Ben Stokes 45 , Jos Buttler (W) 16)

A very economical over from Stoinis. Concedes just three from it as neither Stokes nor Buttler fails to find a boundary.

After 23 overs,England 102/4 ( Ben Stokes 43 , Jos Buttler (W) 16)

FOUR! Stokes plays a sweep shot towards deep square leg. A bit risky, though!

After 22 overs,England 97/4 ( Ben Stokes 38 , Jos Buttler (W) 16)

A desperate Stoinis asks Finch to review an lbw appeal against Buttler. Turns out to be a terrible review from the Aussies as the impact remains outside off and there was neither inside edge nor the bat. Four runs come from the over. 

A desperate Stoinis asks Finch to review an lbw appeal against Buttler. Turns out to be a terrible review from the Aussies as the impact remains outside off and there was neither inside edge nor the bat. Four runs come from the over.

So let’s talk about the race for the top run-scorer in the World Cup.

Shakib al Hasan was first for a while, with 384. Then when Australia played Bangladesh, Aaron Finch went past him to 396. Then David Warner went past them both to 447. Shakib got back to second place when he batted in that match, to 425. Then he went back to top spot while beating Afghanistan, with yet another half-century to move to 476. Today, Warner surged back over the top to 500, while Finch valiantly tried to catch his teammate but fell short on 496. Shakib has an innings in hand, and the contest through the end of this World Cup will be hot.

Jos Buttler’s last four ODI innings against Australia:

110*, 54*, 11, 91*

After 21 overs,England 93/4 ( Ben Stokes 36 , Jos Buttler (W) 15)

Just two runs from Cummins’ over, and Stokes seems like he is desperate to score more boundaries. Australia needed this kind of over after Stokes looked dangerous in the last few ones.

Marcus Stoinis with the ball. This is the make or break bowler for England. They have to score a lot of their runs against him, but he knows that and he expects that. Most of his wickets come from batsmen having to attack him. He learned his trade in T20 cricket in the Big Bash, and has a decent strategy worked out. He mostly bowls short of a length, at the body, cramping batsmen for room. Once in a while he throws in a proper bouncer, and he often gets wickets from batsmen trying to pull. He sits back and waits for a mistake. Even the boundary that Stokes just hit from him required a lot of risk, advancing down the pitch to make the ball full enough to hit straight.

After 20 overs,England 91/4 ( Ben Stokes 35 , Jos Buttler (W) 14)

Stokes is finally getting into the groove here. He slams yet another boundary, a powerful one, which he lofts over towards mid-on. An expensive start for Stoinis, with eight coming from it.

FOUR! Stokes charges forward once again and lofts this one over mid-on! The 28-year-old is slowly getting into his groove.

After 19 overs,England 83/4 ( Ben Stokes 30 , Jos Buttler (W) 11)

Stokes has given the hosts’ fans with something to smile about. A charged up Stokes steps forward and pulls this one through to deep mid-wicket. This was a much-needed boost for England. Just those four runs off Cummins’ over though.

Bold call from KP

FOUR! Stokes advances forward, charges and plays a pull shot through to deep mid-wicket. A classy shot from Stokes.

After 18 overs,England 79/4 ( Ben Stokes 26 , Jos Buttler (W) 11)

Stokes runs for a brace on a couple of instances once again, while Buttler scores in ones. The duo are trying to be cautious here, and they know the fall of one more wicket will dampen their hopes in this match. Seven runs from Starc’s over.

After 17 overs,England 72/4 ( Ben Stokes 20 , Jos Buttler (W) 10)

Seven runs come off Lyon’s over. Stokes does well to pick up three runs in the first ball, whereas he once again goes for a couple of runs two balls later. Stokes is proving to be a great runner between the wickets here.

After 16 overs,England 65/4 ( Ben Stokes 14 , Jos Buttler (W) 10)

Buttler begins the over with a boundary which he sweetly drives through the cover. Meeanwhile, Behrendorff slides and saves two runs at third man as Buttler picked up an attempted yorker from Starc.

You wonder how much you can trace England’s problems back to the loss of Alex Hales. Jason Roy has been such a big part of this team’s success, with the momentum he provides at the top. But when he’s not available, or when any kind of gap needs filling, Hales has been the next man in. He would have been the covering player in the last few matches, but instead James Vince has played and has given England nothing at the top of the order. When Hales was first dropped from the squad for disciplinary reasons, it looked like a marginal decision that wouldn’t much matter to England. From this perspective, it might have been crucial.

FOUR! An over-pitched delivery from Starc has proved to be costly as Buttler takes full advantage and drives through the covers.

After 15 overs,England 57/4 ( Ben Stokes 13 , Jos Buttler (W) 3)

Lyon continues, and just three runs come from his over. Buttler and Stokes are persuaded to score in singles this over, and the duo will need to score in boundaries now.

It seems astounding that England’s campaign could be falling apart in front of our eyes. They have been so confident, so fearless, so consistent over the course of the last few years. If they can recapture that, then they can still claim the title as the team they were. But they look nothing like that team now. They have India after this. If they lose that, Bangladesh could be ahead of them on points, or Sri Lanka could be, or Pakistan. That would leave England having to beat top-placed New Zealand in England’s final match to get back in the top four, but even then one of the other sides with later games could push them out. Extraordinary.

After 14 overs,England 54/4 ( Ben Stokes 12 , Jos Buttler (W) 1)

Australia have done the damage once again. This time, Behrendorff takes the wicket of Bairstow, who goes for the pull shot and eventually finds Cummins at deep mid-wicket. Jos Buttler has now joined Stokes in the middle.Just two runs from the over.

There are calculated risks, and there are errors forced by pressure. Bairstow has been feeling the need to hit out, but that was a muddled effort. The short ball was miles outside off stump, and Bairstow still tried to fetch it and hit it over the leg side, even though he’s an excellent cutter and uppercutter. That was a horrible shot, and it illustrates England’s dilemma.

WICKET! A loose shot from Bairstow and there’s the top-edge once again and lofts this one towards Cummins at deep mid-wicket. Is the game over already for England? Bairstow c Pat Cummins b Behrendorff 27(39)

After 13 overs,England 52/3 ( Jonny Bairstow 27 , Ben Stokes 11)

Nathan Lyon is introduced to the attack and concedes just five runs in the over. Stokes once again finds a couple of runs, this time, punching towards wide of cover point. Once again, this is a boundary-free over.

After 12 overs,England 47/3 ( Jonny Bairstow 26 , Ben Stokes 7)

Cummins continues, and concedes just four runs in the over. Stokes finds the gap through backward point for a couple of runs, but importantly, no runs were scored in boundaries this over.That would put up more pressure on the English duo.

After 11 overs,England 43/3 ( Jonny Bairstow 25 , Ben Stokes 4)

Stokes gets finally off the mark in his 14th ball. He drives through the covers to bring up his first boundary, as well as his first few runs off Behrendorff’s ball. Yet again, Aussies are in no mood to concede more than four runs an over. Despite boundaries starting to come regularly, pressure is still on the hosts.

Interestingly, various of the English journalists around me at Lord’s were questioning why Jason Behrendorff was in the team. I was asked why Australia would play two left-armers, and why Australia would play a swing bowler when the new ball would certainly be taken by Cummins and Starc. Well, you saw Behrendorff bowl the first over of the match, and you saw what happened. A full length, swing, and the early wicket that rocked England from the start.

FOUR!

After 10 overs,England 39/3 ( Jonny Bairstow 25 , Ben Stokes 0)

Bairstow continues to score, while Stokes is yet to get off the mark. He brings up yet another boundary, and those are the only runs that come in the over.

FOUR! Bairstow uses full use of a full-length delivery from Cummins and flicks this one in front of the square towards the on-side.

After 9 overs,England 35/3 ( Jonny Bairstow 21 , Ben Stokes 0)

Bairstow scores a lovely boundary through the covers. In the very next ball, he takes a single towards mid-wicket, with five runs coming off Behrendorff’s over.

FOUR!

After 8 overs,England 30/3 ( Jonny Bairstow 16 , Ben Stokes 0)

Cummins begins his spell with a maiden.He switches between short balls and fuller-length balls, and Stokes is unable to score a run here.

15-plus wickets in multiple ODI World Cups for pacers:

Wasim Akram (1992,99)
Glenn McGrath (1999,2003,07)
Zaheer Khan (2003,11)
Tim Southee (2011,15)
Mitchell Starc (2015,19)*

After 7 overs,England 30/3 ( Jonny Bairstow 16 , Ben Stokes 0)

It was a very good over from Behrendorff, until Bairstow slammed one over long-off for a boundary. England need more of these if they are to chase this down, and more importantly, they will need Bairstow and Stokes to continue this partnership as much as they can.

FOUR! Bairstow lofts this one towards long-off to give the hosts something to smile about.

After 6 overs,England 26/3 ( Jonny Bairstow 12 , Ben Stokes 0)

Starc is on fire here. He has got the all-important wicket of Eoin Morgan, who finds Cummins at fine-leg. Earlier, Bairstow had just given some hope with a boundary towards the cover position. Five from the over.

Who else in England is planning switch their preference?

So... Wimbledon should be good.

— George Dobell (@GeorgeDobell1) June 25, 2019

WICKET! Morgan has to pay for his mistimed shot as he pulls this one towards Cummins at fine-leg, who takes a comfortable catch. Morgan c Pat Cummins b Starc 4(7)

FOUR! Bairstow finds the gap through the cover position as Starc delivers a little wider-length ball.

After 5 overs,England 21/2 ( Jonny Bairstow 7 , Eoin Morgan (C) 4)

Eoin Morgan brings up his first boundary courtesy a powerful shot towards long-off. Behrendorff got the wrong line on one occasion, when he conceded a wide. Six off the over.

FOUR! What a powerful shot from Morgan! Goes down the ground and the ball races towards the long-off boundary. First boundary for the skipper.

After 4 overs,England 15/2 ( Jonny Bairstow 7 , Eoin Morgan (C) 0)

An exceptional over from Starc. Delivers the in-swinger to remove Root who is struck leg before wicket, and what’s more, it’s a wicket-maiden for the Aussie pacer. Eoin Morgan has joined Bairstow in the middle.

WICKET! Starc delivers the in-swinger again, and Root is stuck lbw. England are already under pressure. Root lbw b Starc 8(9)

After 3 overs,England 15/1 ( Jonny Bairstow 7 , Joe Root 8)

Bairstow brings up the only boundary in the over as this one goes towards wide of mid-on. Those are the only runs coming off Behrendorff’s over.

FOUR! Bairstow drives this one through to deep mid-wicket as Behrendorff delivers a length ball to the right-handed batsman.

After 2 overs,England 11/1 ( Jonny Bairstow 3 , Joe Root 8)

Mitchell Starc is introduced to the attack. Starts with two dots. Bairstow drives through the square of the wicket to pick a couple of runs and get off the mark, whereas Root picks up the right length from Starc as he hits a boundary towards fine-leg. Seven coming from it.

FOUR! Starc bowls this one at the leg-stump and Root flicks it to the fine-leg boundary.

Joe Root’s last 10 ODI innings:

57, 88, 100*, 21, 107, 51, 84, 36, 43, 40

Half-fit Roy couldn’t have done worse

Poor old James Vince...

— Scott Redler  (@RedDogT73) June 25, 2019

After 1 overs,England 4/1 ( Jonny Bairstow 0 , Joe Root 4)

A very good start from Behrendorff. Removes James Vince straightaway as the latter continues his poor run of form. It was an in-swinger from the 29-year-old to give Australia the early breakthrough. Root finishes the over with a four through to backward point.

FOUR! Root picks up a shorter-length ball from Behrendorff and he beats Maxwell at backward point.

WICKET! Behrendorff strikes and how! Vince has to depart for a duck after Behrendorff’s in-swinger gets Australia the very early breakthrough. James Vince b Behrendorff 0

Welcome back. James Vince and Jonny Bairstow will open the batting for England in the run-chase of 286. Behrendorff to open Australia’s bowling

The highest target successfully chased by England in an ODI World Cup match is 301 (against West Indies at Bridgetown in 2007).

It was interesting to note how angry Steve Smith was as he came off the field. He’s been really demonstrative almost every time he’s got out in this World Cup. Swings his arms, swings his bat, shouts things out. It seems more pronounced than it used to be before his year off. Is he even more invested than usual in making big scores and proving a point?

Great start from the Australian openers, but not the finish they would have liked

Finch, Warner must be upset looking at this finish. I expected Maxwell to take it on the @ECB_cricket bowlers but well, Carey has tried his bit and well bowled to English bowlers.#CWC19 #ENGvAUS

— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) June 25, 2019

Australia today:

First 32 overs : 173/1 (RR – 5.40)
Last 18 overs : 112/6 (RR – 6.22)

Most wickets for England in an edition of ODI World Cup:

16 – Ian Botham, 1992
16 – Jofra Archer, 2019*
14 – Andrew Flintoff, 2007

After 50 overs,Australia 285/7 ( Alex Carey (W) 38 , Mitchell Starc 4)

Ben Stokes comes on to bowl the final over of Australia’s innings. He starts off well, conceding just a single in the first half of the over, before Carey is able to strike couple of much-needed boundaries in the over. Australia take 11 runs from the over to finish with 285, setting a sub-par target of 286 runs to win for England at the Lord’s

FOUR! Carey finishes the innings with a little flourish. He backs away, creates some room and slaps a short of a length delivery with a flat bat through covers, the sweeper cover fielder can only escort the ball to the ropes, helping Australia end their innings on 285 for the loss of 7 wickets in 50 overs.

FOUR! Carey picks the bones of that one. Stokes bowls it full on off stump, Carey clears the front leg and thrashes it over covers for a boundary. The field was up in the ring, so the shot was very much on.

After 49 overs,Australia 274/7 ( Alex Carey (W) 28 , Mitchell Starc 3)

Archer misses his mark for the first two deliveries of the over, slipping it wide for the first ball before bowling one right in the hitting range for Carey. However, he is able find the yorker length for the rest of the over, until he decides to go short to Carey, who steers it to third man boundary.

FOUR! Boundary of the first legitimate ball of the over and then off the last ball of the over as well. Archer goes short outside off this time and Carey simply helps the ball on its way, lifting it through the slip region.

FOUR! Wide of off and right in the slot from Archer, Carey arches back and drives it through covers. Good bit of timing on that one. No chance for the deep extra cover fielder.

After 48 overs,Australia 264/7 ( Alex Carey (W) 19 , Mitchell Starc 2)

Woakes runs in to bowl his final over. He sends Cummins packing off the first ball of the over that brings Mitchell Starc to the middle. Carey misses a pull and hurries for a single, Woakes is aware, he runs and takes a shy at the striker’s end but misses. Starc completes the single but is seen clutching hamstring and that could worry the Australians in the Lord’s balcony. He is okay at the moment to continue.  Couple of more singles is all that Carey and Starc can muster. Just four runs from it.

GONE

Cummins becomes the latest batsman to fall. Length ball, outside off from Woakes, Cummins aims to drive the half-volley through covers, ends up edging it to Buttler, the ball just seemed to be dying on the keeper, but he is done well to bend forward and take a clean grab. More trouble for Australia. Woakes bagds his second wicket.

Pat Cummins c Buttler b Woakes 1(4)

After 47 overs,Australia 259/6 ( Alex Carey (W) 17 , Pat Cummins 1)

Despite Carey able to find the fence of the first ball of the over, Wood’s over yeilds only six runs. Cummins tries to ramp a short ball over wicket-keeper, but his limited batting skills and Wood’s extra pace is too good for him.

FOUR! Wood bowls it wide of off and Carey has space to work with. He backs away to the leg side and slaps it past backward point for a boundary of the first ball of the over.

After 46 overs,Australia 253/6 ( Alex Carey (W) 12 , Pat Cummins 0)

Australia really struggling to find that top gear and accelerate in the slog overs. Smith perishes to the pressure and Australia’s hopes of reaching 300 are also quickly fading away. Five runs and a wicket from Woakes’ over.

OUT!

It was on the cards! The boundaries weren’t coming at the pace at which Australia would have liked and the pressure forces Smith to play the big shot. He aims to go down the ground but doesn’t get hold off it. Ends up giving a simple catch to Archer at long on, who has to run in few yards to gobble it. Big wicket for England. Smith is livid with himself, very very frustrated. He wanted to hit this wide of the fielder, didn’t quite get it.

Smith c Jofra Archer b Woakes 38(34)

After 45 overs,Australia 248/5 ( Steve Smith 38 , Alex Carey (W) 8)

Mark Wood continues his impressive second spell with another tight over, not giving away anything loose. Smith puts on his skates to scamper back for the second run off the last ball. Six runs from the over. Australia need some really massive overs here.

Steve Smith has scored fifty-plus runs in eight of his last 11 ODI World Cup innings.

After 44 overs,Australia 242/5 ( Steve Smith 36 , Alex Carey (W) 4)

Woakes comes back into the attack. He is worked for five singles off the first five deliveries before Smith getting hold of a pull to collect a much-needed boundary for his team off the final ball

FOUR! Chris Woakes drops it slightly short, angled into Smith, who swivels and pulls wide of deep mid wicket, beating him to his left.

After 43 overs,Australia 233/5 ( Steve Smith 30 , Alex Carey (W) 1)

Mark Wood continues to send down really pacy deliveries, constantly clocking over 145 kmph. He has been outstanding in his second spell, in a completing contrast fashion to his spell with the new ball. Five runs from the over.

We’ve seen this in almost every Australian innings so far. They get off to a good start, get a really big early partnership or two, and then can’t boost their rate at the end. They seem on track for a huge score, and end up with a big one. It hasn’t cost them any games yet – their one loss against India, the problem was a slow start. But it could cost them one when it matters.

After 42 overs,Australia 229/5 ( Steve Smith 27 , Alex Carey (W) 0)

Alex Carey walks out to bat after the massive mix up between Smith and Stoinis. Australia simply losing wickets at the wrong junctures in the game. With eight overs to go, they will still hope to get to 300, at one point 350 was on the cards. Smith will have to do the heavy lifting, Carey can also use the long handle but they really cannot afford to throw away any more wickets.

OUT!

That’s a horrible mix up between Smith and Stoinis.  Oh dear, it gets worse when you look at the replays. They end up on the same end. Smith drives it to covers and compeletes the first run quickly. However, Stoinis, who is running towards the danger end for the second run comes hurtling down the pitch. Smith doesn’t run as he is watching the ball. Bairstow throws it to the non-striker’s end where both the batsmen are and Rashid has ample of time to relay the ball to Buttler to complete the run out.

Stoinis run out (Bairstow/Adil Rashid/Buttler) 8(15)

FOUR! Dragged down from Rashid and Steve Smith pulls off the backfoot it into the gap at deep midwicket for a boundary. Poor delivery from the wrist-spinner.

After 41 overs,Australia 222/4 ( Steve Smith 22 , Marcus Stoinis 7)

Stoinis with a super shot to extra cover fence off the second delivery off Wood’s over for a boundary. Wood returns to the hard lengths after he is been hit for four. He squares up Wood, who gets a leading edge past backward point for a single. Seven runs from it.

FOUR! Cracking shot from Stoinis! He prods forward and times one perfectly through the covers for exquisite boundary. The timing on the shot was stupendous, beating the extra cover fielder, who had just cover few yards, couldn’t make it.

Glenn Maxwell played in exactly the way you would expect, as per his role in this World Cup: to boost the scoring rate as soon as he comes in. He has made his runs in this tournament at a strike rate of 202, higher than any other batsman except for Liam Plunkett, who has faced 15 balls. But today, Maxwell had a long time to bat and could have taken a slightly more circumspect route to begin with. He’s missed a big opportunity for a big score.

After 40 overs,Australia 215/4 ( Steve Smith 21 , Marcus Stoinis 1)

Adil Rashid is called back into the attack. He almost had Smith in a bit of a tangle with a tossed up googly. Just two singles to long on from the over.

After 39 overs,Australia 213/4 ( Steve Smith 20 , Marcus Stoinis 0)

Mark Wood didn’t have the brightest day at work until this over. Out of nowhere he has bowled a fantastic over. The Maxwell’s wicket has seemed to spurred him on and Marcus Stoinis faces some real pace first up with the ball whistling past his chest. One of his deliveries was clocked at 94 mph i.e. 152 kmph. Only one run and a wicket of Maxwell.

Jofra Archer’s 16 wickets now,

– The most in this World Cup
– The joint most for England in an edition of ODI World Cup alongside Ian Botham (1992)

OUT!

What have you done, Glenn Maxwell! Short delivery outside off and Maxwell didn’t know whether to ramp the delivery or run it down to third man, he eventually chooses the latter, but he is a second too late, edging to Butter for a simple catch. Mark Wood takes his first wicket of the day. Maxwell has once again thrown it away after couple of boundaries.

Maxwell c Buttler b Mark Wood 12(8)

After 38 overs,Australia 212/3 ( Steve Smith 19 , Glenn Maxwell 12)

Maxwell taking the attack to Jofra Archer. He whacks a six and a four off consecutive deliveries before turning the strike over. Smith will retain the strike at the start of the next over with a single to deep square leg off the last ball.

FOUR! Archer repeats the mistake. Still keeps it around chest high and Maxwell targets the same area. This time he doesn’t get the elevation. One bounce and over the ropes.

SIX! Maxwell gets a great connection on a short of a length delivery from Archer, smacking it over mid wicket for a maximum.

After 37 overs,Australia 200/3 ( Steve Smith 18 , Glenn Maxwell 1)

Smith with back-to-back boundaries off Wood’s first over of the second spell. Maxwell is off the mark and the 200 comes up for Australia. Still 13 overs to go, the Aussies must aim for a big score.

FOUR! Smith simply uses the pace of Mark Wood this time, angling the bat to run the back of a length delivery outside off to third man fence.

FOUR! Too full from Wood and Smith pumps it past Maxwell down the ground the fielder at mid-on had no chance whatsoever.

After 36 overs,Australia 190/3 ( Steve Smith 9 , Glenn Maxwell 0)

Pretty eventful over that started with a mix up between Finch and Smith , with the latter having the need to put in a dive to get home after Finch was rather too eager to reach his century, he eventually does off the next ball courtesy a fumble by Chris Woakes, who takes his catch the very next ball. Glenn Maxwell comes out to the middle, who faces some chin music straightaway with Archer cranking a bouncer climbing on his neck. He awkwardly fends it towards point but the ball lands safely. In between Smith collected a boundary off the first ball he faced off Archer in international cricket.

Most tons by Australian batsmen against an opponent in ODIs:

7 – Finch v England*
6 – Gilchrist v India
6 – Ponting v New Zealand
6 – Ponting v India

Most centuries for captains in an edition of ODI World Cup:

3 – Sourav Ganguly, 2003

2 – Glenn Turner, 1975

2 – Ricky Ponting, 2003

2 – Brendon Taylor, 2015

2 – Kane Williamson, 2019

2 – Aaron Finch, 2019*

FOUR! Nice work from Steve Smith. Archer angles into Smith, who shuffles across and tickles it off his hips to fine leg fence. He played that one really fine, no chance for the fielder.

OUT! Right then, Finch holes out first ball after completing his century. It is short ball from Archer, that hurries on Finch, who goes for the pull, gets the top edge and Chris Woakes at fine leg, who gifted him his 100th run, pouches it. He walks off to a standing ovation.

Finch c Woakes b Jofra Archer 100(116)

CENTURY! Finch has his arms aloft as he brings up his second ton of this World Cup. Might not have been the quickest but he has still been splendid. A world cup century at Lord’s against England must make him really proud. A misfield at fine leg presents him with a chance for a second run and he hares back for it.

After 35 overs,Australia 183/2 ( Aaron Finch (C) 98 , Steve Smith 4)

Finch has just seems to have taken his leg off the gas in the last few overs and it could be the wrong time to do that. He is closing on his second century of this World Cup, but it will also lead to a loss of momentum for Australia. Credit must be given to Stokes and Archer for their bowling. Smith slices past point for a couple past point for a brace to end the over. Time for the second drinks break.

Great crowd in today at Lord’s. The Pavilion is full, as are all the other stands. Lots of England fans, and a smattering of gold Australian shirts. It’s getting warmer, and feels less like it might rain any second. The light is coming through strongly, through a light layer of cloud rather than a thick blanket. It’s very bright out on the ground. Positive signs for these two teams, who so far have been blessed with no wash-outs.

After 34 overs,Australia 178/2 ( Aaron Finch (C) 96 , Steve Smith 1)

Straightaway then, Eoin Morgan has gone to his leading wicket-taker, Jofra Archer, with the new man and his friend from Rajasthan Royals out in the middle. However, it is Finch, who is facing the first ball and guess what he faces all six deliveries delaying the battle between Smith and Archer. A brace to start with and a single off the final ball to collect three runs from it. Archer bowled a beautiful leg-cutter to beat Finch’s outside edge.

After 33 overs,Australia 175/2 ( Aaron Finch (C) 93 , Steve Smith 1)

Ben Stokes disturbs Khawaja’s woodwork, which brings Steve Smith to the middle amid the expected boos from the crowd at the Lord’s.  Australia management have faced the flak of holding Maxwell too late, Smith has come in the 33rd over, will this move also spark a debate? The former captain is off the mark with a single,

CLEANED UP

Ben Stokes pitches it slight up on middle and leg stump, hint of movement into Khawaja, who was looking to play one of elegant whips through mid wicket. He misses it and the ball cannons into middle stump. Stokes is pumped with the wicket.

Khawaja b Stokes 23(29)

After 32 overs,Australia 173/1 ( Aaron Finch (C) 92 , Usman Khawaja 23)
 

Finch looks set for another hundred in the World Cup. He laces a boundary to cover fence off Rashid’s leg break. Seven runs came off it as well as the 50-run partnership between the Australian captain and Khawaja.

FOUR! Another magnificent shot from Finch! Rashid floats one just outside off stump and the right-hander opens his body to find the perfect placement, driving it fiercely to extra cover fence. He moves into 90s

After 31 overs,Australia 166/1 ( Aaron Finch (C) 88 , Usman Khawaja 20)

Finch lashes a drive that looked good for a boundary but for Archer’s exceptional work in the field, where he puts in the dive just inside the ropes keeping it down to two. Couple of singles makes it four from the over.

After 30 overs,Australia 162/1 ( Aaron Finch (C) 85 , Usman Khawaja 19)

Rashid set to bowl his seventh over on the run. Couple of googlies in the over. Stokes makes a fine effort in the ring to save a run perhaps two. Khawaja deploys the sweep off the final ball to take two runs. Four runs off the over.

And there’s a minor win to Australia. Moeen is the only wicket-taker, but he’s gone for plenty of runs from his six overs. Off he comes, and Stokes switches back to seam-up in order to change the flow of the innings.

After 29 overs,Australia 158/1 ( Aaron Finch (C) 84 , Usman Khawaja 16)

Stokes is recalled into the attack. He keeps it back of a length with Khawaja and Finch pulling and working off his hips to garner three runs from the over.

After 28 overs,Australia 155/1 ( Aaron Finch (C) 82 , Usman Khawaja 15)

Buttler misses a big chance behind the stumps, when Justin Langer called Buttler the new MS Dhoni, he purely meant as a batsman and not the wicket-keeper. Although he is a fine stumper, he has let this one go by. Rashid bowled a beautiful googly to beat Khawaja’s outside edge and the southpaw falls over, Buttler fails to collect the ball cleanly before he dislodges the bails. He rubs salt in the wounds with a boundary off the next ball as Australia cross the 150-run mark.

FOUR! Khawaja with a well-executed reverse sweep to earn his first boundary of the innings. Saw the flat delivery on off stump, went down on the knee and plays the reverse sweep through point for a  boundary.

After 27 overs,Australia 148/1 ( Aaron Finch (C) 81 , Usman Khawaja 9)

Lucky boundary for Finch off the final ball of the over, which was turning out to be a good over for Moeen Ali. Finch has ensured that the runs do not dry up after Warner’s wicket.

FOUR! Off the outside edge. Finch looking for the drive against the spin, gets an edge through the slips and the ball scurries away from Adil Rashid at short third man into the fence.

After 26 overs,Australia 141/1 ( Aaron Finch (C) 76 , Usman Khawaja 7)

England’s spinners pair continues to run through the overs. Rashid concedes a single earlier in the over, then a brace thanks to Root’s misfield at long off.

After 25 overs,Australia 138/1 ( Aaron Finch (C) 74 , Usman Khawaja 6)

Three easy singles from the first three balls of the over. Finch defends couple of deliveries before slamming one down the ground for the second six of the innings. Nine runs from Moeen’s over.

SIX! That’s outta here! Finch pounds this over long on for a mighty hit. He plays it with the turn, taking the ball pitched on off and sending it over long on fence with consummate ease.

So this is a really interesting back and forth between Australia’s batsmen and England’s spinners. It was a deliberate strategy to attack the spinners right from the start. England rely on Moeen and Rashid to control the run rate through the middle overs, squeeze opponents, and pick up wickets through pressure or create wickets if one of the seamers comes on. Today the pressure was initially reversed and put onto the bowlers. Now they’ve got the wicket of Warner, so will Finch be able to keep attacking? Will Khawaja join in? Or can those spinners get on top? It’s an intriguing stage of the game.

After 24 overs,Australia 129/1 ( Aaron Finch (C) 67 , Usman Khawaja 4)

Rashid continues. Khawaja looks comfortable against Rashid working him around confidently, reading the googlies and sweeping him for a couple. Four from it.

After 23 overs,Australia 125/1 ( Aaron Finch (C) 66 , Usman Khawaja 1)

Finch with a meaty six over deep mid wicket early in the over before Moeen Ali breaks the dangerous opening wicket partnership with Warner’s wicket, which brings the left-hander Usman Khawaja in the middle. He is off the mark with a single.

OUT

That’s the breakthrough England were looking for. Mo Ali is the man for England. Warner was opening his body, lining up to thrash it through the offside, but the delivery just seems to stick into the ground that pops up from the surface and Warner is only able to slice it in the air on the offside, unable to keep it down, Joe Root runs from point to covers point to complete the catch. 

Warner c Root b Moeen Ali 53(61)

SIX! That has been blasted over mid wicket fence from Finch for a maximum. Length ball in Finch’s range, biffed.

After 22 overs,Australia 114/0 ( Aaron Finch (C) 56 , David Warner 53)

Couple of nudges and pushes in the over but Rashid keeps it tight and holds it down for just two runs. Back-to-back quiet overs for England.

Aaron Finch becomes the second captain to hit four consecutive 50-plus scores in ODI World Cups after Graeme Smith (in 2007).

After 21 overs,Australia 112/0 ( Aaron Finch (C) 55 , David Warner 52)

Mooen does well to slip in a quick and quiet over, allowing just two singles from it but England desperatly searching for a wicket.

After 20 overs,Australia 110/0 ( Aaron Finch (C) 54 , David Warner 51)

These two are now calling the shots. England looking out of ideas. Four singles come from the over as Warner completes his fifty, the openers are now looking to tee off. England under the pump.

Openers with 500-plus runs in an edition of ODI World Cup:

Sachin Tendulkar, 1996
Sachin Tendulkar, 2003
Matthew Hayden, 2007
Tillakaratne Dilshan, 2011
Martin Guptill, 2015
David Warner, 2019*

FIFTY! David Warner’s chance to raise his bat. He extends his superb run with the bat. Pushes for a single down the ground for a single to bring up his half-century.

That’s it. Eight century stands for Warner and Finch, and three in this World Cup together. They have a good working relationship, obviously. But this is perhaps the most surprising partnership yet. They’re up against a quality bowling attack on every line, they faced an excellent opening spell, but they’ve fought through that and are flourishing now.

After 19 overs,Australia 106/0 ( Aaron Finch (C) 52 , David Warner 49)

Finch reaches his half-century, Warner one run away. They are playing the spinners rather too easily. England on the backfoot, hoping for a mistake from the Australian openers.

Most century stands in an edition of ODI World Cup:

3 – de Silva/Gurusinha, 1996

3 – Gilchrist/Hayden, 2007

3 – Dilshan/Sangakkara, 2015

3 – Finch/Warner, 2019*

Most 50-plus scores in a calendar year in ODIs by Australian captains:

13 – Ricky Ponting, 2007
11 – Ricky Ponting, 2009
10 – Ricky Ponting, 2005
10 – Steve Smith, 2016
10 – Aaron Finch, 2019*

FIFTY! Aaron Finch lifts the ball towards mid wicket for two as he notches another half-century.

After 18 overs,Australia 100/0 ( Aaron Finch (C) 48 , David Warner 47)

Spin from both ends from England. Warner now trying to race his skipper to the half-century. He takes the attack straight to  Adil Rashid. He skews it past mid off for a couple but has made the intentions clear. Couple of boundaries for him in the over as 10 runs are taken from Rashid’s over. The 100-run stand also comes up, the consistency by Australia’s opening pair has been outstanding.

FOUR! SHOT! That has been hammered through the covers by Warner, and with that boundary the hundred comes up!

FOUR! Dragged down from Adil Rashid and Warner half-squats on his front leg, turns his body and places a pull to the gap at midwicket. The fielder in the deep tries to get around and put in the dive, but looses his footing as his knee removes a chunk of the grass and isn’t able to stop the ball

After 17 overs,Australia 90/0 ( Aaron Finch (C) 48 , David Warner 37)

Mooen Ali is brought into the attack after drinks break. Warner strides forward and taps it wide of cover for a couple. More poor cricket from England as they leak runs via overthrows, Warner flicks one off his legs to mid wicket but Buttler is unable to collect a low throw from Morgan and neither is the slip able to back it up allowing Warner and Finch to steal another run. Couple of singles to end Moeen’s first over.

After 16 overs,Australia 83/0 ( Aaron Finch (C) 47 , David Warner 31)

Finch and Warner once again working perfectly on the blueprint they have laid out for their success in the tournament. Finch collects two more fours from Wood’s over as he approaches his half-century. Players will now enjoy a quick beverage.

CRUNCHED! Wow! That has been absolutely belted by Aaron Finch. Full delivery outside off from Wood and Finch brings down the sludge hammer to drive it powerfully through covers. No need to run for those

The three-way battle at the top of the World Cup runs list goes on. Shakib al Hasan was top with 476. Warner has just gone past to 478. Finch is lurking close behind on 433. They keep swapping places.

FOUR! Finch will feast on short of length deliveries all day long. Wood holds is back of a length, angling the ball into him and Finch pulls it behind square to long leg fence.

After 15 overs,Australia 75/0 ( Aaron Finch (C) 39 , David Warner 31)

Eoin Morgan turns to Ben Stokes. He comes on to bowl his first over. Sedate start for Stokes, with just four singles from his opening over. Worrying signs for Morgan as Finch now threatening to cut loose.

After 14 overs,Australia 71/0 ( Aaron Finch (C) 37 , David Warner 29)

Couple of boundaries separated by three off in the first half of the over. Runs coming quickly for Australia as they now look to increase the run rate. Wood’s over costs 12 runs.

FOUR! Finch drags a back of a length delivery and once again despite not geting a perfect connection, he earns a boundary as the ball rolls away from mid on fielder.

FOUR! Warner continues to go after short deliveries, it was back of a length on middle and leg, he stayed back and pulls it over Moeen at mid on. Not very convincing but enough bat on that on.

This is Finch and Warner’s 14th opening partnership worth 50 in ODIs. They also have 7 century partnerships, and could well add another today. They’ve made over 2700 runs opening the batting together.

After 13 overs,Australia 59/0 ( Aaron Finch (C) 33 , David Warner 22)

Woakes still unchanged from the Nursery end. Couple of boundaries for Finch as he looks to take the more aggressive route. Couple of boundaries in the over. Australia are once again off to a solid start. They have already gone past their sixth half-century partnership in seven games in this World Cup.

FOUR! Super shot from Finch. Not much wrong with the delivery there from Woakes. The right-hander asserts himself forward to a delivery outside off and punches it on the up, past mid off fielder for a boundary.