Australia’s poor form and misfortune in the tournament combined to send them out of the Champions Trophy here at the Edgbaston today, as England’s Eoin Morgan and Ben Stokes combined to pull England off a shaky start and put them well ahead of the required score by the Duckworth Lewis method when rain forced play to stop. This is England’s third win in the three matches of the Champions Trophy, and they will now play India or South Africa in the first semi-final. On the other hand, the defeat marked a miserable campaign for the Australians, who have not won anything in their three matches – in their first match against New Zealand, they were on the mat and looked set for defeat when the rain saved them, while the rain held them from claiming a win against Bangladesh when they looked all set to. Australia have been unlucky to have rain interrupt all their matches, but they haven’t been at the top of their game as was shown in yesterday’s match.
ICYMI: Bangladesh progressed to the semi-finals thanks to England's victory over Australia!
➡️ https://t.co/rFAo67bltA #ENGvAUS #CT17 pic.twitter.com/vdBxCfGmcM
— ICC (@ICC) June 11, 2017
The England win paved the way for a historic entry for Bangladesh into the semis, and the subcontinental team will be oozing confidence after they vanquished New Zealand in a fine display of ODI cricket to send them tumbling out of the tournament. Bangladesh, with one win and a draw have 3 points to their tally, while both Australia and New Zealand have 2.
Todays game England v Australia felt like an exact replica of ydays Bangladesh victory over NZ. World class run chases after early wickets.
— Brendon McCullum (@Bazmccullum) June 10, 2017
The Australian pace machine of Mitch Starc, Josh Hazelwood and Pat Cummins had the English team down when they reduced them to 35 for 3 in 5.4 overs, chasing a healthy target of 278, but skipper Morgan and Stokes then settled in and consolidated their innings on their way to a 159 run stand off 158 balls. Ben Stokes, the IPL sensation who was in the team as a handy all-rounder, scored his first century of the tournament while Morgan was unlucky to miss a ton when he was run out in a late misunderstanding. The partnership most definitively took the game away from the Aussies, as the duo aggressively pushed back against the initial pressure with some lusty hitting to and over the boundary. The much hyped Australian pace machine failed to strike when it was needed most, and when the rain came, England were ahead of the required total by 40 runs, marking the end of Australia’s campaign.
Player of the Match goes to @benstokes38 for his fantastic century that helped England make it 3 wins from 3 at #CT17! pic.twitter.com/exgvp0UTG6
— ICC (@ICC) June 10, 2017
Earlier, it was a late fightback from the England bowlers that brought Australia’s projected down below 300, as both Aaron Finch and Steve Smith got half centuries. When Smith fell in the 32nd over, Australia were 181 for a loss of four wickets. However, it was a downward slide from there was Australia kept losing wickets and it was only a late assault from Travis Head, who got 71, that took them to 277.
REPORT: A superb partnership by @Eoin16 and @benstokes38 guides England to victory to knock out Australia!
➡️ https://t.co/rFAo67sWSa #CT17 pic.twitter.com/IVYnZNAbZu
— ICC (@ICC) June 10, 2017
Champions Trophy 2017 Group A Final Standing
1 England
2 Bangladesh
England and Bangladesh make it through to the semi-finals from Group A – the first time in an ICC tournament for Bangladesh! #CT17 pic.twitter.com/erN7NTowgz
— ICC (@ICC) June 10, 2017
Champions Trophy 2017 England v/s Australia Final Result
England won by 40 runs by D/L method
Champions Trophy 2017 England v/s Australia Final Score
Australia 277/9 (50)
England 240/4 (40.2)
