Reigning champion Australia became the first team in the World Cup 2019 to officially confirm a semi-final spot after beating host England by 64 runs at Lord’s Tuesday.
Chasing a competitive 286, England were all out for 221 in 44.4 overs with all-rounder Ben Stokes (89) playing a lone hand.
Left-arm seamers Jason Behrendorff and Mitchell Starc bagged five and four wickets respectively.
Earlier, England fought back after another solid opening stand between Aaron Finch and David Warner to restrict Australia to 285 for the loss of seven wickets.
Captain Finch and Warner put on 123 runs - their fifth fifty-partnership in a row - before Warner fell, after being put in to bat on a murky morning at the home of cricket.
? Australia win by 64 runs ?#AaronFinch and Co. excel with both bat and ball as they beat England in their #CWC19 contest at Lord's. #CmonAussie pic.twitter.com/u2h36Fg5bw
— ICC (@ICC) June 25, 2019
Finch went on to his second century of the tournament.
Warner is now the leading batsman in the tournament with 500 runs, just four more than Finch in second place.
England, under pressure following their shock loss to Sri Lanka, initially looked nervous in the field.
But they bowled tightly in the closing overs to limit the Australians to a manageable score.
Finch and Warner appeared to be in complete control before the latter, on 53, spooned a catch to Joe Root at backward point off Moeen Ali.
10-0-44-5
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 25, 2019
What a time for Jason Behrendorff to get his first ODI five-for ✋ #CWC19 | #CmonAussie pic.twitter.com/h7VpzjI9Xv
After Ben Stokes had bowled Usman Khawaja for 23, Finch reached three figure off 115 balls.
But he skied Jofra Archer's next delivery straight into the hands of Chris Woakes at fine leg and Australia lost momentum.
Glenn Maxwell crunched Archer over mid-wicket for six before edging Mark Wood to wicket-keeper Jos Buttler for 12, and Marcus Stoinis was run out for eight following a comical mix-up with Steve Smith.
The former Australia captain made 38 before chipping Woakes to Archer at mid-on, and he left the field to a smattering of boos in reference to his role in last year's ball-tampering scandal.
Pat Cummins edged Woakes to Buttler for one and although Alex Carey pierced the field with a few crisp strokes to finish unbeaten on 38, the Australians may be disappointed with their score as they bid for a sixth win of the tournament.
An Australian victory would virtually secure their place in the semi-finals, and if England lose they might need to beat India and New Zealand in their last two group game to be sure of making the last four.
MATCH 32
AUSTRALIA INNINGS R B
Finch c Woakes b Archer 100 116
Warner c Root b Moeen 53 61
Khawaja b Stokes 23 29
Smith c Archer b Woakes 38 34
Maxwell c Buttler b Wood 12 8
Stoinis run out (Bairstow) 8 15
Carey not out 38 27
Cummins c Buttler b Woakes 1 4
Starc not out 4 6
Extras (lb 4, w 4) 8
Total (50 Overs) 285/7
Fall Of Wickets
1-123 (Warner), 2-173 (Khawaja), 3-185 (Finch), 4-213 (Maxwell), 5-228 (Stoinis), 6-250 (Smith), 7-259 (Cummins)
Bowling
Woakes 10-0-46-2, Archer 9-0-56-1, Wood 9-0-59-1, Stokes 6-0-29-1, Moeen 6-0-42-1, Rashid 10-0-49-0
ENGLAND INNINGS R B
Vince b Behrendorff 0 2
Bairstow c Cummins b Behrendorff 27 39
Root lbw b Starc 8 9
Morgan c Cummins b Starc 4 7
Stokes b Starc 89 115
Buttler c Khawaja b Stoinis 25 27
Woakes c Finch b Behrendorff 26 34
Moeen c Carey b Behrendorff 6 9
Rashid c Stoinis b Starc 25 20
Archer c Warner b Behrendorff 1 4
Wood not out 1 2
Extras (b 1, lb 5, w 3) 9
Total (44.4 Overs) 221 all out
Fall Of Wickets
1-0 (Vince), 2-15 (Root), 3-26 (Morgan), 4-53 (Bairstow), 5-124 (Buttler), 6-177 (Stokes), 7-189 (Moeen), 8-202 (Woakes), 9-211 (Archer), 10-221 (Rashid)
Bowling
Behrendorff 10-0-44-5, Starc 8.4-1-43-4, Cummins 8-1-41-0, Lyon 9-0-43-0, Stoinis 7-0-29-1, Maxwell 2-0-15-0
Australia won by 64 runs
MoM: Aaron Finch
