England thump Australia to reach first World Cup final in 27 years

England marched into their first World Cup final for 27 years on Thursday, thrashing reigning champions Australia by eight wickets at Edgbaston to set up a showdown with New Zealand.

Jason Roy hit a blistering 85 as England reached a victory target of 224 with a mammoth 107 balls to spare after bowling out Australia for 223.

Openers Roy and Jonny Bairstow (34) put on 124 for the first wicket, their fourth consecutive century stand.

England, losing finalists in 1979, 1987 and 1992, will now face New Zealand, who have also yet to win the World Cup, in Sunday's title match at Lord's.

The Black Caps, runners-up to Australia in 2015, enjoyed a surprise semi-final win over India on Wednesday.

Four years after a woeful World Cup campaign triggered a major overhaul of England's one-day international set-up, captain Eoin Morgan admitted reaching the final was a reward for his team's hard work.

"If you told me after the last World Cup that we'd reach the final I wouldn't have believed you. It sums up how far we have come in the last four years. Everyone should take a huge amount of credit," Morgan said.

"Today was close to a perfect performance. Chris Woakes and Jofra Archer bowled a hell of a spell."

"This final is a huge opportunity for us," he added. "Making the most of it would be brilliant but getting to the final alone is awesome."

Defeat meant Australia suffered their first loss in eight World Cup semi-finals and skipper Aaron Finch conceded they had been dominated from start to finish.

"We were totally outplayed today. We expected the new ball to seam a little but they bowled a great length, hitting the stumps a lot," he said.

"We came here thinking we could win the tournament. We've had backs to the wall. I'm proud of how the group have progressed but it still hurts."

Roy power

Roy, who missed three matches earlier in the tournament with a torn hamstring, was in particularly good form, hitting five sixes.

Australia were in desperate need of early wickets after suffering a top-order collapse on the way to being dismissed for 223, with the record five-time champions thankful for Steve Smith's battling 85.

All three of England's defeats this tournament - including a group-stage loss to Australia - have come batting second but Roy and Bairstow showed few signs of nerves in Birmingham.

Smith, who bowled a single over that cost 21 runs, was booed by a large crowd, a reflection of the former Australia captain's role in a ball-tampering scandal in South Africa that saw him banned for 12 months.

But the jeers turned to cheers as Roy hit three huge straight sixes in as many balls off his leg-spin.

Bairstow fell lbw to Mitchell Starc, who in the process set a new record for most wickets at a single World Cup of 27.

Roy was in sight of a hundred when he was given out caught behind down the legside by wicketkeeper Alex Carey off fast bowler Pat Cummins.

The batsman was visibly angry and had to be ushered away from the crease by square-leg umpire Marais Erasmus. England had earlier squandered their lone review.

But Joe Root (49 not out) and Morgan (45 not out) finished the job as the crowd chanted "cricket's coming home".

Earlier, England paceman Woakes and spinner Adil Rashid each took three wickets.

Woakes, voted man of the match for his lethal spell of 3-20, struck twice early on as Australia slumped to 14-3 after winning the toss.

Australia's prolific opening pair of David Warner and Finch, as well as Peter Handscomb, were all back in the pavilion by the seventh over.

Warner, who like Smith walked out to boos because of his role in the ball-tampering scandal, returned to even louder cat-calls after being dismissed for nine.

Smith and Alex Carey steadied the innings with a fourth-wicket stand of 103 but wickets tumbled at regular intervals and Australia were unable to halt England's sprint to the final.

England dismiss Australia for 223 in World Cup semi-final

Chris Woakes and Adil Rashid each took three wickets as England seized control of their World Cup semi-final against Australia at Edgbaston on Thursday, bowling out the defending champions for 223.

Woakes struck twice early on as Australia slumped to 14-3 after winning the toss in Birmingham but Steve Smith led the recovery for Australia with 85 and Alex Carey made 46.

The hope for Australia is that an attack led by left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc, the tournament's leading wicket-taker with 26 scalps, can defend a seemingly low total.

All three of England's defeats at this tournament, against Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Australia, have come batting second.

England, bidding to reach their first final since 1992 and yet to win the World Cup, made a sensational start.

Australia's prolific opening pair of David Warner and Aaron Finch, as well as Peter Handscomb, were all back in the pavilion by the seventh over.

Warner, who walked out to boos because of his role in a ball-tampering scandal in South Africa last year, returned to even louder jeers after being dismissed for nine.

Smith, who was also given a 12-month ban for his part in the incident, was given a similar greeting when he made his way to the wicket.

Smith and Carey steadied the innings with a fourth-wicket stand of 103 before leg-spinner Adil Rashid (3-54) struck twice in five balls.

Australia wicketkeeper Carey had his helmet knocked off by a Jofra Archer bouncer and required several minutes of on-field treatment.

With his head swathed in a bandage, Carey resumed his innings but in sight of a fifty he hoisted Rashid straight to substitute fielder James Vince at deep midwicket.

Four balls later, Australia were 118-5 when all-rounder Marcus Stoinis was lbw for a duck to Rashid's googly.

The dangerous Glenn Maxwell then holed out to England captain Eoin Morgan off Archer for 22 and Pat Cummins was caught by Joe Root to give Rashid another victim.

Smith received good support from Starc (29) in an eighth-wicket stand of 51 but, in sight of a hundred, he was run out by wicketkeeper Jos Buttler's direct hit.

Next ball, Starc was caught behind off Woakes and the innings ended with an over to spare when Mark Wood bowled Jason Behrendorff.

Archer, who took 2-32, said: "From the New Zealand game it's all been a semi-final for us so we just need to keep winning.

"Maxwell was my favourite wicket because he got me out at Lord's so it's good to get him back. Smith batted really well today, especially on this pitch.

"It nipped a lot more than it swung so we held the ball back and used more cross-seam deliveries."

The winners of the match in Birmingham will face 2015 runners-up New Zealand, who shocked mighty India at Old Trafford, in Sunday's final at Lord's.

Australia are bidding for a sixth World Cup title, having won four of the past five editions.

Smith defies England as Australia struggle in World Cup semi-final

Steve Smith held firm with an unbeaten fifty as England reduced Australia to 166 for seven in their World Cup semi-final at Edgbaston on Thursday.

England, bidding to reach their first final since 1992, made a sensational start against the reigning champions, taking three early wickets to leave Aaron Finch's side in deep trouble.

Prolific opening pair David Warner and Finch, as well as Peter Handscomb, were all back in the pavilion by the seventh over.

Smith and Alex Carey (46) steadied the innings with a fourth-wicket stand of 103 before leg-spinner Adil Rashid struck twice in five balls to leave Australia 118-5.

The dangerous Glenn Maxwell then holed out to England captain Eoin Morgan off the bowling of Jofra Archer for 22 and Pat Cummins was caught by Joe Root to give Rashid another victim.

The winners of the match in Birmingham will face New Zealand, who shocked mighty India at Old Trafford, in Sunday's final at Lord's.

England have never won the World Cup but have risen to the top of the ODI standings since an embarrassing first-round exit at the 2015 edition.

Earlier, Barbados-born Archer struck with his first ball, trapping Australia captain Finch lbw for a duck.

Finch, who made exactly 100 in Australia' 64-run group win over England at Lord's, then cost his side their lone review of the innings when he unsuccessfully challenged Sri Lankan umpire Kumar Dharmasena's decision.

Woakes, on his Warwickshire home ground, had Warner well caught by Jonny Bairstow at first slip for nine.

Warner, who walked out to boos because of his role in a ball-tampering scandal in South Africa last year, returned to even louder jeers.

Smith, who was also given a 12-month ban for his part in the incident, was given a similar greeting when he made his way to the wicket.

Warner's exit brought in Handscomb, only recently called into the squad after Usman Khawaja's tournament-ending hamstring injury, but he was bowled by Woakes for just four.

Australia wicketkeeper Carey had his helmet knocked off by an Archer bouncer and required several minutes of on-field treatment but with his head swathed in a bandage, Carey resumed his innings.

Left-hander Carey then cover-drove both Woakes and Liam Plunkett - yet to be on the losing side this World Cup.

But in sight of a fifty he hoisted Rashid straight to substitute fielder James Vince at deep midwicket.

Four balls later, Australia were 118-5 when all-rounder Marcus Stoinis was lbw for a duck to Rashid's googly.

Australia are bidding for a sixth World Cup title, having won four of the past five editions.

England draw first blood in World Cup semi against Australia

England made a sensational start in their blockbuster World Cup semi-final against Australia on Thursday as they seek to reach their first final since 1992 and cement their status as the top side in one-day international cricket.

Ashes rivals Australia won the toss at Edgbaston and chose to bat but were in deep trouble at 14 for three, with prolific opening pair David Warner and Aaron Finch, as well as Peter Handscomb, back in the pavilion.

The winners of the match in Birmingham will face New Zealand, who shocked mighty India at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

England's embarrassingly limp first-round exit at the 2015 tournament prompted an overhaul of their approach to one-day internationals for a side that had long placed Test success above all other considerations.

Australian coach Trevor Bayliss was drafted in with the aim of guiding their bid for a first World Cup crown.

The transformation has been impressive, with England climbing to number one in the ODI rankings under the astute captaincy of Eoin Morgan.

Their rise to the summit has been based on dynamic run-scoring, with in-form openers Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow leading the way at the top of the order and Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler adding enormous power in the engine room of the side.

The addition of fast bowler Jofra Archer has given the host nation an enviable pace attack, which did the damage early on Thursday.

Barbados-born Archer struck with his first ball, trapping Finch lbw for a duck and Woakes had Warner caught in the slips for just nine.

Warner, who walked out to boos because of his role in a ball-tampering scandal in South Africa last year, returned to even louder jeers.

Steve Smith, who was also given a 12-month ban for his part in the incident, was given a similar greeting when he made his way to the wicket.

Warner's exit brought in Handscomb, only recently called into the squad after Usman Khawaja's tournament-ending hamstring injury, but he was bowled by Woakes for just four.

Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey had his helmet knocked off by an Archer bouncer and required several minutes of on-field treatment before resuming his innings but he and Smith took the score to 55-3 after 16 overs.

England highs and lows

Morgan had urged England to avoid being overawed by the scale of the task confronting them in Birmingham and he shrugged off the loss of the toss at Edgbaston, even though batting first has been a major advantage during the World Cup.

"We are not really bothered - before the World Cup we preferred to chase. Whoever plays the best cricket will go through," he said.

"We have had highs and lows in the tournament but in the past two games (wins over India and New Zealand) we have gone from strength to strength."

Australia have not lost any of their seven previous World Cup semi-finals - although they did tie with South Africa at Edgbaston 20 years ago before advancing into the final thanks to their superior net run-rate from the preceding 'Super Six' stage.

England had won 10 of their last 11 ODIs against Australia prior to the World Cup but that counted for nothing when Australia landed a psychological blow in the group stage, beating their Ashes rivals by 64 runs at Lord's last month.

Roy was missing with a torn hamstring and since his return, England have secured crucial wins over India and New Zealand that took them into the semi-finals.

Australia, who have not won in any format at Edgbaston since the 2001 Ashes Test, suffered a surprise 10-run defeat by South Africa at Old Trafford in their final group game.

Australia are bidding for a sixth World Cup title, having won four of the past five editions.

"We're full of confidence going into this game, but England have been front runners in one-day cricket for the last four years," said captain Finch.

"It will come down to whoever holds their nerve and whoever holds their half-chances."

Australia struggle to 27-3 against England in World Cup semi-final

England enjoyed a sensational start with the ball as reigning champions Australia suffered a dramatic collapse in their World Cup semi-final at Edgbaston on Thursday.

Australia lost openers Aaron Finch and David Warner with just 10 runs on the board and were 27 for three at the end of the initial 10-over powerplay.

Warner drove the first ball of the match, from Chris Woakes, through extra-cover for four.

But Australia captain Finch, who won the toss, fell for a golden duck when he was lbw to fast bowler Jofra Archer's opening delivery at the start of the second over.

Finch, who made exactly 100 in Australia's 64-run group-stage win over England, reviewed but replays upheld Sri Lanka umpire Kumar Dharmasena's original decision.

That meant Australia had lost their review and would not be able to challenge any more decisions in the innings.

His exit brought in former captain Steve Smith who, in common with Warner, walked out to huge jeers from the crowd. Both players served 12-month bans for their roles in a ball-tampering scandal in South Africa last year.

Left-hander Warner, who has scored more than 600 runs at the 2019 World Cup, then drove Woakes back over his head for four.

But next ball Woakes, on his Warwickshire home ground, produced a rising delivery that Warner, on nine, could only fend to Jonny Bairstow at first slip to leave Australia 10-2 inside three overs.

Warner returned to even greater boos than those that had accompanied him on his way out to bat.

His exit brought in Peter Handscomb, only recently called into the squad after Usman Khawaja's tournament-ending hamstring injury.

But Handscomb fell for just four when bowled between bat and pad by Woakes.

Australia were now 14-3, with Woakes having taken two wickets for two runs in 10 balls.

Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey, on four, then had his helmet knocked off by an Archer bouncer timed at 139 kilometres-per-hour (86 mph).

Carey required several minutes of on-field treatment before resuming his innings.

The winners of the match will play New Zealand, who upset the odds to beat India by 18 runs, in Sunday's final at Lord's.

Australia slump to 10-2 against England in World Cup semi-final

Reigning champions Australia lost openers Aaron Finch and David Warner as they slipped to 10 for two in their World Cup semi-final against England at Edgbaston on Thursday.

Warner drove the first ball of the match, from Chris Woakes, through extra-cover for four.

But Australia captain Finch, who won the toss, fell for a golden duck when he was lbw to fast bowler Jofra Archer's opening delivery at the start of the second over.

Finch, who made exactly 100 in Australia's 64-run group-stage win over England, reviewed but replays upheld Sri Lanka umpire Kumar Dharmasena's original decision.

Left-hander Warner, who has scored more than 600 runs at the 2019 World Cup, then drove Woakes back over his head for four.

But next ball Woakes, on his Warwickshire home ground, produced a rising delivery that Warner, on nine, could only fend to Jonny Bairstow at first slip to leave Australia 10-2 inside three overs.

Warner, who walked out to boos because of his role in a ball-tampering scandal in South Africa last year, returned to even louder jeers mixed in with those for incoming batsman Steve Smith, who was also given a 12-month ban for his part in the incident.

The winners of the match will play New Zealand in Sunday's final at Lord's.

Australia bat against England in World Cup semi-final

Australia captain Aaron Finch won the toss and decided to bat against England in their World Cup semi-final at Edgbaston on Thursday.

Reigning champions Australia made one change after a surprise 10-run defeat by South Africa at Old Trafford, with the recently called-up Peter Handscomb replacing injured batsman Usman Khawaja.

England, whose ability to chase under pressure was called into question by group-stage losses to Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Australia, were unchanged from the side that routed New Zealand by 119 runs in their final group match at Chester-le-Street on July 3.

England, who have never won the World Cup, are bidding to reach the final for the first time since 1992.

They have risen to the top of the one-day international rankings since a woeful first-round exit at the 2015 edition.

Five-times champions Australia have never lost any of their seven previous World Cup semi-finals, although they did tie with South Africa at Edgbaston 20 years ago before advancing to the final thanks to their superior net run-rate from the preceding 'Super Six' stage.

England had won 10 of their past 11 ODIs against Australia prior to the World Cup.

But that counted for nothing when Australia landed a psychological blow in the group stage, beating Ashes rivals England by 64 runs at Lord's last month.

England though were then without Liam Plunkett, now back in their team, and the fast bowler has yet to feature in a defeat at this World Cup.

Australia have not won a match in any format at Edgbaston since the 2001 Ashes Test.

The winners of this match will face New Zealand in Sunday's final at Lord's following the Black Caps' upset 18-run win over India at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

Teams

England: Eoin Morgan (capt), Jonny Bairstow, Jason Roy, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (wkt), Liam Plunkett, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood

Australia: Aaron Finch (capt), David Warner, Steve Smith, Peter Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey (wkt), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Lyon

Umpires: Kumar Dharmasena (SRI), Marais Erasmus (RSA)

TV umpire: Chris Gaffaney (NZL)

Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)

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