England crush Australia to make ICC Cricket World Cup final
A majestic England side swept into their first World Cup final for 27 years, with an eight-wicket demolition of Australia at Edgbaston. It was the host nation’s first victory in a World Cup knockout match since 1992, as well as their first opportunity to lift the trophy, all the more memorable as they beat the defending champions.
Australia won the toss and decided to bat first; a strategy which had proven to offer a distinct advantage in the tournament thus far. However, this was to be an innings that did not go to plan, as Chris Woakes and Jofra Archer went to work with the new ball and cut the Baggy Green’s top order to pieces in the opening seven overs, reducing them to 14 for 3.
The Birmingham crowd went wild, a deafening wall of noise as Finch (0), David Warner (9) and Peter Handscomb (4) were dismissed for a dismal return.
Only the chorus of boos that greeted Warner and Smith equated to the volume of cheering. Nevertheless it was Steve Smith, with his unerring ability to deal with new-ball pace bowling, who held Australia together, helping his side to a total of 223. Firstly in partnership with wicket keeper Alex Carey, caught off Adil Rashid for a sterling 46, then alongside Glenn Maxwell (22) and Mitchell Starc (29), resulting in a score that at least gave the cup holders something to bowl at.
Probably England’s most complete display; awe-inspiring with the ball, keen in the field and commanding with the bat.Woakes (3 for 20) and Archer (2 for 32) whipped the new ball this way and that on a full length.
Archer had Finch lbw with his first ball, a viciously rising delivery from Woakes saw Warner ward off a ball to first slip, he then bowled Handscomb through the gate. Archer also left Alex Carey requiring stitches courtesy of a side-on blow to the chin that knocked his helmet off, as he took evasive action. Symptomatic of Australia’s lack of luck perhaps, was Smith’s bizarre run out via a direct hit by wicketkeeper Jos Buttler’s that somehow shot between the batsman’s legs toward the stumps.
A straightforward England innings
Although Smith had ensured a run chase which a temporarily subdued crowd knew might present some difficulties en route, the decibel level was soon rising again as Jason Roy adroitly navigated Starc’s first over. Then Roy, with masterful timing, gave England supporters a rush of belief with a scornfully flamboyant flick for six off the left-armer.
Any vestige of home nerves stemming from the legendary menace of Mitchell Starc were soon dissipated by openers Roy and Jonny Bairstow with a prodigious opening partnership of 124 for the first wicket. The more it became apparent that England were enjoying a stroll in the park, the greater the party momentum amongst the crowd.
Starc was serenaded with the same lyrical number which had persecuted Mitchell Johnson, and the Hollies Stand bayed like a pack of bloodhounds as Roy hammered three monstrous sixes in succession off the bowling of Smith.
In the meantime Bairstow, undoubtedly out lbw to Starc on 34 appeared to selfishly waste a review with the 3rd umpire. This allowed Jason Roy’s wicket to fall unchallenged for 85, wrongly adjudged to have been caught behind by Carey off a delivery from Cummins which had clearly made no contact with either glove or bat. Roy was later fined 30 percent of his match fee and docked two demerit points for an ugly display of discontent at the decision.
A hiccup in an otherwise flawless performance, which left Joe Root and skipper Eoin Morgan unbeaten on 46 and 45 respectively, having literally glided England to their target with 17.5 overs left.
At the end, as the rain came down, a collective Edgbaston was bellowing to the world that cricket was coming home.
The hosts would start the final as firm favourites in their bid to be crowned world champions for the first time against New Zealand at Lord’s on Sunday 14th of July.
