Cricket

Australia beat New Zealand by 86 runs at the 2019 Cricket World Cup on Saturday to move three points clear at the top of the standings.

The defeat is the second in a row for the Black Caps, who still have work to do to secure a place in the semi-finals of the tournament.

Meanwhile, Pakistan beat Afghanistan by three wickets with two balls remaining in a thrilling match at Headingley Cricket Ground in Leeds.

The result is bad news for tournament hosts England, who slip out of the top four with tough matches against India and New Zealand still to come.

     

Standings (Won, Lost, Net Run Rate, Points)

1. Australia: 7, 1, +1.000, 14

2. India: 5, 0, +1.160, 11

3. New Zealand: 5, 2, +0.572, 11

4. Pakistan: 4, 3, -0.792, 9

5. England: 4, 3, +1.051, 8

6. Bangladesh: 3, 3, -0.133, 7

7. Sri Lanka: 2, 3, -1.186, 6

8. South Africa: 2, 5, -0.080, 5

9. West Indies: 1, 5, -0.320, 3

10. Afghanistan: 0, 8, -1.418, 0

The full standings are available from the tournament's official website

       

Top Run-Scorers

1. David Warner, Australia: 516

2. Aaron Finch, Australia: 504

3. Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh: 476

4. Kane Williamson, New Zealand: 454

5. Joe Root, England: 432

6. Babar Azam, Pakistan: 378

7. Rohit Sharma, India: 338

8. Mushfiqur Rahim, Bangladesh: 327

9. Virat Kohli, India: 316

10. Usman Khawaja, Australia: 298

      

Saturday Recap

Pakistan moved into fourth place in the standings after surviving a scare from an already-eliminated Afghanistan side who had looked set to pick up their first World Cup win on Saturday.

Afghanistan won the toss and went into bat, setting Pakistan a modest run chase. Asghar Afghan and Najibullah Zadran both made 42 as Afghanistan posted a total of 227-9 from their 50 overs.

Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi took four wickets in a strong performance by the 19-year-old:

Shaheen Afridi steals the show!

The 19-year old takes 4/47, which are record figures in a Men's World Cup game for a teenager.

Afghanistan set Pakistan 228 to win.#PAKvAFG | #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/nCy1RQ0zye

— ICC (@ICC) June 29, 2019

Yet Pakistan suffered an early blow when they lost opener Fakhar Zaman to a duck on just the second ball of the innings:

Mujeeb gets Fakhar Zaman lbw with the second ball of the innings - the perfect start for Afghanistan! The batsman loses Pakistan's review.

Ball-by-ball: https://t.co/XjyxyH17Zo
Live report: https://t.co/S8Tyd9cbyl#PAKvAFG | #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/jZx5wYUrNW

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 29, 2019

Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq produced a 72-run partnership to get Pakistan back on track, but they then slumped to 156-6 to put Aghanistan back in the driving seat.

The tournament's only winless team were left needing just 48 needed from 36 balls to claim their first win at the World Cup.

However, Imad Wasim and Wahab Riaz kept their nerve and composure to deliver the runs needed for Pakistan to clinch a tight victory with just two balls left.

Imad Wasim has won it for Pakistan!

A quite brilliant 49 not out seals an epic three-wicket win for his side.#CWC19 | #PAKvAFG | #WeHaveWeWill pic.twitter.com/xxgHX2RGJg

— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 29, 2019

Australia have already qualified for the semi-finals but clinched their seventh win in eight matches at Lord's.

The Aussies' top-order batsmen were not at their best, and they needed Usman Khawaja (88) and wicketkeeper Alex Carey (71) to help them to victory.

Trent Boult took a hat-trick for New Zealand, taking out Khawaja, Mitchell Starc and Jason Behrendorff to restrict Australia to 243-9:

👆 Usman Khawaja
👆 Mitchell Starc
👆 Jason Behrendorff

Trent Boult becomes the first New Zealander to take a hat-trick in a Men's World Cup!#CWC19 pic.twitter.com/FyLyYG8aIY

— ICC (@ICC) June 29, 2019

However, New Zealand went on to produce a below-par batting display and also came up against an in-form Starc, who took five wickets:

46 - Mitchell Starc has claimed 46 wickets across the last two men's @cricketworldcup campaigns (2015 & 2019); 11 more than anybody else. Destructive. #NZvAUS #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/KLZgHAVGL3

— OptaJason (@OptaJason) June 29, 2019

Behrendorff managed to dismiss openers Martin Guptill and Henry Nicholls, and Australia also produced a surprise as both captain Aaron Finch and Steve Smith made appearances with the ball:

23 November 2014: Steve Smith takes his 27th ODI wicket.

1679 days later... Steve Smith takes his 28th ODI wicket!

Worth the wait?#CWC19 | #NZvAUS | #CmonAussie pic.twitter.com/aZFtBBNODq

— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 29, 2019

The result means Australia continue to look the team to beat at the World Cup, while New Zealand go on to face England on Wednesday in a match that both sides may need to win to progress.

England must beat India at Edgbaston on Sunday to keep alive their hopes of reaching the semi-finals at the 2019 Cricket World Cup.

Defeat to Australia last time out has left England facing an uphill battle to reach the last four. India represent the first challenge, with New Zealand to follow.

India's motivation is also strong, with Virat Kohli and Co. second in the standings and on the cusp of a semi-final berth. Kohli's team is also in the stronger form, having won its past three matches.

                     

Date: Sunday, June 30

Time: 10:30 a.m. BST/5:30 a.m. ET

TV Info: Sky Sports Cricket, Willow TV

Live Stream: Sky Go, Sling TV

            

Odds

England: 1-1
India: 20-23

Odds per Oddschecker.

                  

Losing to Australia opened up England to criticism from some familiar sources, with former captains Michael Vaughan and Kevin Pietersen have been quick to vent their frustrations, per BBC Sport: "Pietersen said one-day skipper Eoin Morgan was 'scared' in the 64-run defeat by Australia, while [Jonny] Bairstow was played a clip from BBC Radio 5 Live of Vaughan saying England could be heading for their worst World Cup."

Bairstow was defiant in the face of such criticism, dismissing it as "just showbiz."

Jonny Bairstow has a message for England's players, fans and critics: keep calm and carry on.https://t.co/gfWnJo8N6F pic.twitter.com/g3XK3hZDqv

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 28, 2019

There are credible reasons for Bairstow to defend what England have produced at the tournament.

Jofra Archer has taken the joint-second-most wickets with 16, per the competition's official website. However, he needed a late fitness to test to be passed to play against Australia, and Archer experienced some shoulder pain during the defeat. But the 24-year-old should be available to face India, according to Will Macpherson of the London Evening Standard.

Archer will be needed to help disrupt a talented India batting order capable of tallying runs in bunches.

Rohit Sharma has amassed 338 runs, while Kohli has 316 to his credit.

A fourth consecutive half-century from #ViratKohli helped India to victory over West Indies on Thursday!@oppo | #BeAShotMaker pic.twitter.com/lopXy0j922

— ICC (@ICC) June 28, 2019

England can hit back with their own heavy hitters, particularly Ben Stokes and Morgan. The latter has enjoyed moments of brilliance, such as when he smashed 17 sixes in a win over Afghanistan.

Morgan needs to find his magic again, while Stokes simply needs to replicate the fighting spirit he showed against Australia.

89 balls, 82 runs, seven fours and four sixes.

A magnificent effort from Ben Stokes.#ENGvSL #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/A55jfkfeWh

— bet365 (@bet365) June 21, 2019

England have the personnel capable of salvaging a campaign that's gone awry but isn't beyond repair. Morgan will need his match-winners at full strength against an India team showing the kind of consistency the tournament co-hosts are struggling for.

South Africa beat Sri Lanka by nine wickets at the 2019 Cricket World Cup on Friday. An unbroken partnership of 175 between skipper Faf du Plessis and Hashim Amla saw South Africa easily pass the chase of 204 Sri Lanka had set.

Du Plessis finished four short of a century, while Chris Morris took three more wickets for the Proteas.

The win is just South Africa's second of the tournament and has done little to improve the chances of Du Plessis and Co. reaching the semi-final. Instead, the result has put a significant dent in Sri Lanka's hopes of joining Australia in the last four.

     

Friday Result

• South Africa (206 for one) bt. Sri Lanka (203) by nine wickets

Sri Lanka's hopes of making the semi-finals look dim after their defeat against South Africa #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/HPywYfV8Ck

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 28, 2019

 

Top Run-Scorers

1. David Warner, Australia: 500

2. Aaron Finch, Australia: 496

3. Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh: 476

4. Joe Root, England: 432

5. Kane Williamson, New Zealand: 414

6. Rohit Sharma, India: 338

7. Babar Azam, Pakistan: 333

8. Mushfiqur Rahim, Bangladesh: 327

9. Virat Kohli, India: 316

10. Ben Stokes, England: 291

Top Wicket-Takers

1. Mitchell Starc, Australia: 19

2. Jofra Archer, England: 16

3. Mohammad Amir, Pakistan: 16

4. Lockie Fergsuon, New Zealand: 15

5. Mark Wood, England: 13

6. Chris Morris, South Africa: 12

7. Pat Cummins, Australia: 11

8. Sheldon Cottrell, West Indies: 11

9. Imran Tahir, South Africa: 10

10. Yuzvendra Chahal, India: 10

Visit the tournament's official website to see the lists in full.

      

Saturday Schedule

• Pakistan vs. Afghanistan: 10:30 a.m. BST/5:30 a.m. ET
• New Zealand vs. Australia: 1:30 p.m. BST/8:30 a.m. ET

       

Morris wrecked every phase of Sri Lanka's batting order en route to taking a trio of wickets. He bowled Angelo Matthews out for 11, before his smart delivery allowed Dwaine Pretorius to make the catch and claim the wicket of Jeevan Mendis.

Another Morris over late on saw Du Plessis catch Lasith Malinga out. Morris also got his hands to a sliced stroke from Kusal Mendis as Sri Lanka left a chase South Africa fancied.

If you exclude wicketkeepers - only Joe Root (10) has taken more catches at this World Cup than Faf du Plessis (nine).

➡ https://t.co/EAKypajyYg #bbccricket #CWC19 #SLvSA pic.twitter.com/jy7K4RK1Vn

— Test Match Special (@bbctms) June 28, 2019

The Proteas' start to the chase began in sluggish fashion, as Malinga bowled Quinton de Kock. Rather than being a major setback, it was merely the cue for Amla and Du Plessis to take over.

2️⃣0️⃣ overs into their innings and South Africa are going well!

They're 111/1, with Hashim Amla 51*

#SLvSA | #CWC19 | #ProteaFire pic.twitter.com/Kj9pYy2C2t

— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 28, 2019

A third 50 of #CWC19 for South African captain #FafduPlessis!

He looks to be leading his side to their second victory of the tournament.#SLvSA | #ProteaFire pic.twitter.com/oaN4m1Kufw

— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 28, 2019

Try as they might, Sri Lanka simply couldn't shift either man:

Mendis is convinced he’s trapped Amla lbw but South Africa opt for DRS and replays to show that the ball pitched millimetres outside leg stump!

Follow updates from Durham as #LionsRoar take on #ProteaFire live on Sky Sports #CWC19 here: https://t.co/shoP3q0h0W pic.twitter.com/ojUbGkXjb9

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 28, 2019

Amla finished with a solid 80 from 105 balls, notching five fours in the process. The 36-year-old made the careful shots and intelligent strokes and left Du Plessis to do most of the damage.

The damage he inflicted was obvious from the gaudy numbers his innings yielded:

A captain's innings from #FafduPlessis 💪 #SLvSA | #CWC19 | #ProteaFire pic.twitter.com/O6V0nKJvkd

— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 28, 2019

Fittingly, victory was sealed by the last of the captain's 11 boundaries. Du Plessis cleverly clipped a leg-side ball from Thisara Perera over the rope.

The West Indies were eliminated from 2019 Cricket World Cup semi-final contention after a comprehensive defeat against India on Thursday.

India won by 125 runs, with the Windies unable to perform at the crease as they collapsed at Old Trafford in Manchester, England.

Virat Kohli was player of the match with a knock of 72, helping the Men in Blue to a score of 268. The West Indies could only reply with 143 before being bowled out.

The tournament's official Twitter account provided the latest standings:

With that win over West Indies, India have climbed to No. 2️⃣ on the #CWC19 standings.

Give us your semifinalists:

1. _________
2. _________
3. _________
4. _________#WIvIND pic.twitter.com/a34QdvA4Hw

— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 27, 2019

                                          

Top Run-Scorers

David Warner, Australia, 500

Aaron Finch, Australia, 496

Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh, 476

Joe Root, England, 432

Kane Williamson, New Zealand, 414

   

Top Wicket-Takers

Mitchell Starc, Australia, 19

Mohammad Amir, Pakistan, 16

Jofra Archer, England, 16

Lockie Ferguson, New Zealand, 15

Mark Wood, England, 13

For complete stats, visit the tournament's official website.

                   

India (268 for 7) beat West Indies (143 all out) by 125 runs

It was a bad day at the office for the Windies, who cannot finish in the top four and make the knockout stage.

India's attack appeared assured as they piled on the runs after choosing to bat, with KL Rahul opening with 48 from 64 balls.

Kohli's 72 kept the momentum for his side, and MS Dhoni ended his day 56 not out.

The set target was always going to be an uphill battle for the West Indies, but it wasn't until the second half of their innings before they lost all hope.

Chris Gayle was gone for only six after 19 deliveries, but the Caribbean team were 101 for five before their dramatic collapse.

Sunil Ambris made 31 and Nicholas Pooran scored 28, but that was as good as it got for the eventual losing side.

Mohammed Shami took four wickets for 16 runs as India's bowlers ripped through the order, and Jasprit Bumrah and Yuzvendra Chahal both claimed a pair.

The two-time World Cup champions didn't have enough in the tank, and India reaffirmed their position as one of the tournament favourites.

                                         

What's Next?

Sri Lanka and South Africa will meet on Friday at Durham, England, in the group stage. The Sri Lankans, currently seventh out of 10 teams, need a win in their efforts to claim a top-four berth.

Pakistan (241/4) kept their bid to qualify for the 2019 Cricket World Cup knockout stages alive with a big win over New Zealand (237/6) on Wednesday, beating the Black Caps by six wickets with five balls remaining.

James Neesham (97 not out) and Colin de Grandhomme (64) were the unlikely top scorers of New Zealand's innings, boosting the total to 237 after a rocky start. Pakistan had their own dynamic partnership, however, as Babar Azam (101 not out) and Haris Sohail (68) teamed up to complete a steady chase.

The loss was New Zealand's first of the tournament and their place in the semi-finals no longer looks assured. Pakistan, meanwhile, move up to sixth place, tied on points with Bangladesh and just a single point behind hosts England, who are now in serious jeopardy of failing to make the next stage.

Here are the top run-scorers of the Cricket World Cup so far:

David Warner, Australia, 500

Aaron Finch, Australia, 496

Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh, 476

Joe Root, England, 432

Kane Williamson, New Zealand, 414

   

The top wicket-takers:

Mitchell Starc, Australia, 19

Mohammad Amir, Pakistan, 16

Jofra Archer, England, 16

Lockie Ferguson, New Zealand, 15

Mark Wood, England, 13

For complete stats, visit the tournament's official website.

   

Pakistan did plenty of early damage with the ball on Wednesday, but an unlikely partnership of Neesham and De Grandhomme still gave the Black Caps a solid total to defend at Edgbaston.

Openers Martin Guptil (five from four) and Colin Munro (12 from 17) didn't last long for the in-form New Zealand squad, and while the ever-reliable Kane Williamson (41 from 69) put up some much-needed resistance, the Black Caps' chances of winning seemed doomed when he was caught in the 27th over.

At the time, the score was 83 for five and not much was expected from the sixth-wicket partnership. Neesham and De Grandhomme had other ideas, however:

This is the longest time @BLACKCAPS all-rounders Jimmy Neesham and Colin de Grandhomme have spent at the crease in an ODI. Neesham previously 83 balls now 103; de Grandhomme 48 balls now 70. Also the 1st century partnership for the 6th wicket by a NZ pair at World Cups. #CWC19

— Andrew Alderson (@aldersonnotes) June 26, 2019

De Grandhomme's 64 from 71 and Neesham's 97 not-out powered the Black Caps to a solid total, and even their opponents were impressed by the latter's performance:

Mohammad Hafeez showing his appreciation for Jimmy Neesham's performance with the bat 🤝 👏 #SpiritOfCricket | #CWC19 | #NZvPAK pic.twitter.com/bz0b0QGQa8

— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 26, 2019

For Pakistan, 19-year-old Shaheen Afridi bowled 10 sensational overs, with three maidens and three wickets:

Shaheen Afridi's 10-3-28-3 is the most economical spell by a Pakistan fast bowler in World Cups since Wasim Akram's 2-27 in Manchester in 1999. #CWC19

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) June 26, 2019

Fakhar Zaman (nine from 10) and Imam-ul-Haq (19 from 29) fell relatively early in the chase, as the Black Caps did a fine job keeping the Pakistani batsman in check initially.

The required run rate steadily climbed to above five, but Azam (101 not out) and Sohail (68 from 76) never panicked, showing plenty of patience in the chase. 

Azam received praise for his century:

https://twitter.com/SAfridiOfficial/status/1143947930447036416

Back-to-back fours from Azam in the 42nd pushed the required run rate below five, and the chase seemed secure from that point on. Sarfaraz Ahmed got Pakistan over the line with a four on the first delivery of the final over. 

Whats Next?

India will face West Indies on Thursday. Pakistan's next outing will be on Saturday when they face Afghanistan, while New Zealand will also be in action in a key game for their hopes against Australia.

Australia beat England by 64 runs at Lord's on Tuesday to book a place in the semi-final of the 2019 Cricket World Cup. England couldn't complete a chase of 286 after a solid innings from the visitors.

Skipper Aaron Finch brought up exactly a century, while the leading run-scorer at the tournament, David Warner, added 53.

England lost key wickets early, including those of Joe Root and Eoin Morgan. Both fell to deliveries from Mitchell Starc, who overtook England's Jofra Archer as the most prolific wicket-taker in the competition so far.

Ben Stokes put up 89 in a losing cause for the hosts.

      

Tuesday Result

• Australia (285-7) bt. England (221) by 64 runs

      

Standings (Won, Lost, Net Run Rate, Points)

1. Australia: 6, 1, +0.906, 12

2. New Zealand: 5, 0, +1.306, 11

3. India: 4, 0, +0.809, 9

4. England: 4, 3, +1.051, 8

---

5. Bangladesh: 3, 3, -0.133, 7

6. Sri Lanka: 2, 2, -1.119, 6

7. Pakistan: 2, 3, -1.265, 5

8. West Indies: 1, 4, +0.190, 3

9. South Africa: 1, 5, -0.324, 3

10. Afghanistan: 0, 7, -1.634, 0

The top four qualify for the semi-finals.

       

Top Run-Scorers

1. David Warner, Australia: 500

2. Aaron Finch, Australia: 496

3. Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh: 476

4. Joe Root, England: 432

5. Kane Williamson, New Zealand: 373

6. Mushfiqur Rahim, Bangladesh: 327

7. Rohit Sharma, India: 320

8. Ben Stokes, England: 291

9. Steve Smith, Australia: 282

10. Eoin Morgan, England: 274

      

Top Wicket-Takers

1. Mitchell Starc, Australia: 19

2. Jofra Archer, England: 16

3. Mohammad Amir, Pakistan: 15

4. Lockie Ferguson, New Zealand: 14

5. Mark Wood, England: 13

6. Pat Cummins, Australia: 11

7. Imran Tahir, South Africa: 10

8. Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh: 10

9. Mohammad Saifuddin, Bangladesh: 10

10. Mustafizur Rahman, Bangladesh: 10

Visit the tournament's official website to see the lists in full.

Finch continued a prolific spell at the wicket by slogging his way to a century off 116 balls, striking 11 fours.

Aaron Finch's last four innings:

82, 153, 53, 100*#CWC19 #AaronFinch pic.twitter.com/j2LofbZCcm

— Ladbrokes (@Ladbrokes) June 25, 2019

The Aussie captain made a habit of punishing England:

#AaronFinch has now scored more World Cup hundreds (2) and more ODI hundreds (7) v England than any other player in history.#CWC19 | #ENGvAUS pic.twitter.com/rXnWU3mLKS

— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 25, 2019

Chris Woakes' catch off Archer's delivery sent him packing, but Warner contributed well. He surpassed the half-century mark before a smart catch from Root sent him from the crease.

The damage had been done, though, as Australia were building a tough total to chase. A steady 38 late in the order from Alex Carey padded the numbers somewhat and blighted England's otherwise strong efforts to limit the total.

Jason Behrendorff made a great start to wrecking England's openers. He sent Jonny Bairstow from the crease when the latter clipped one to Pat Cummins.

Behrendorff then saw off James Vince, ahead of Starc bowling Root lbw. Cummins again showcased his skills when he got his hands to a wayward swing from Morgan, who had been fooled by a short ball from Starc.

Just as things were looking bleak, Stokes stepped up with a gutsy performance at the wicket:

Gulp.

It appears Ben Stokes has a leg injury - he's battling on though.

England 109-4 in the 25th over.

👉 https://t.co/i7uGuI6hzF#CWC19 #bbccricket #ENGvAUS pic.twitter.com/gBOpZ7QDh2

— Test Match Special (@bbctms) June 25, 2019

His efforts gave England brief hope:

Ben Stokes at #CWC19 so far:

Runs ▶️ 254
Average ▶️ 63.5
Fifties ▶️ 3#WeAreEngland pic.twitter.com/nZUKv00cQ9

— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 25, 2019

Said hope appeared to be extinguished, though, when Jos Buttler was caught square by Usman Khawaja.

The middle order had been destroyed, prompting England to send Woakes to the crease ahead of Moeen Ali:

Chris Woakes, promoted above Moeen Ali, averages 77.5 in international cricket at Lord's

— Ali Martin (@Cricket_Ali) June 25, 2019

Stokes was still battling and hit a pair of sixes to keep England's hope flickering. However, when his wicket fell to another testing delivery from Starc, any chances of an unlikely win had gone.

Trevor Bayliss' men can still qualify but have a lot to do after a third defeat at the tournament. By contrast, Australia join India and New Zealand as the nations to beat. 

Australia became the first team to secure a semi-final spot at the 2019 Cricket World Cup on Tuesday after they defeated England by 64 runs following a disappointing display from the hosts at Lord's, London.

Aaron Finch opened for the reigning world champions and scored a match high of 100 runs, forming a century partnership alongside David Warner who finished their innings with 52.

Australia got to a score of 123 before losing a wicket when Warner fell, whereas England's four opening batsmen were dismissed inside the 53-run mark. Jonny Bairstow, James Vince, Joe Root and Eoin Morgan scored a combined 39 runs at the beginning of a hapless chase attempt.

Jason Behrendorff took five wickets in only his second innings at this World Cup, but it was the superb Mitchell Starc who did greater damage to England with his four as Australian topped their rivals in style.

It was a balanced performance across the board from Australia, who had heroes in both innings thanks to the phenomenal talents of Finch and Starc, who proved too much for the hosts.

Finch earned Player of the Match honours when his 153 led Australia past Sri Lanka earlier in the contest, and he was again the gem in their attack en route to a valuable win over a heated rival.

The ton was Finch's 15th in one-day international (ODI) cricket, and statistician Mohandas Menon noted how his speed in reaching that mark put him in some elite company:

Fewest inns to 15th ODI 100s
86 - Hashim Amla
106 - Virat Kohli
108 - Shikhar Dhawan/David Warner
112 - AARON FINCH
126 - Joe Root
143 - Saeed Anwar
144 - Sourav Ganguly#CWC19 #CWC2019#AusvEng#EngvAus

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) June 25, 2019

Cricbuzz highlighted it wasn't Finch's first experience tormenting England:

Two matches against England in the World Cup and two tons for Aaron Finch. #ENGvAUS #CWC19 https://t.co/dWMjRiKvKm pic.twitter.com/zoYoi6eqJX

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) June 25, 2019

Alex Carey and Steve Smith each notched 38 runs apiece and were the only other Australian scorers of note, and their total of 286 will have been seen by some in the England cap as reachable.

Those hopes turned to rubble as Behrendorff and Starc laid waste to England's opening order, however. The former bowled Vince out before he'd made even one run, while Root and Morgan managed just 12 between them. 

Stokes—fifth in England's batting order—did his utmost to mount a resurrection attempt and found the boundary on eight occasions, recording another two maximums in what was a valiant effort on his part.

Jos Buttler replaced the dismissed Bairstow (27 runs) and contributed a similar score with 25 off 27 balls.

Stokes held the fort as best he could but was got out for 89 in the end. Cricket editor Dave Tickner hailed a courageous performance and hinted at England's other lacking batsmen:

Stokes 152/0 in England's last two games. Other England batsmen 189/15.

— Dave Tickner (@tickerscricket) June 25, 2019

Starc finally removed the Durham all-rounder with a stupendous in-swinging yorker, clinching his 18th wicket of the tournament to take him two above Jofra Archer at the top of the bowler charts.

Commentator Harsha Bhogle praised the quality of the ball and the impact it will likely have on this World Cup:

That, from Mitch Starc to Ben Stokes, has to be one of the best yorkers you will see. Almost certainly the ball that guarantees Australia a place in the semi-final.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 25, 2019

Moeen Ali followed shortly after and was caught out for Behrendorff's third wicket of the day, the all-rounder mustering just six runs in his latest underwhelming batting display.

Finch again took Player of the Match honours as Chris Woakes and Archer fell to complete the rout, a victory that's sure to give coach Justin Langer's side great confidence going into their remaining matches.

It doesn't get much better for Australia than to beat fierce rivals England on their own soil at a World Cup, with perhaps only an away Ashes victory topping that in their list of accolades.

Qualifying for the semi-finals has become a more complicated matter for England, who are now within genuine reach of those other contenders hoping to finish fourth.

India remain third in the table with two games in hand over Australia and England.

       

What's Next?

Australia will be back in action at Lord's on Sunday when they face New Zealand in a clutch fixture between two major front-runners. Tournament hosts England return to play against India at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Monday.

Bangladesh defeated Afghanistan by 62 runs at the 2019 Cricket World Cup on Monday.

Shakib Al Hasan climbed to the top of the competition's run-scoring charts after a knock of 51 at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, England.

The victory puts Bangladesh into fifth spot in the latest standings, with the top four set to qualify.

Bangladesh 🆙 ➡️ 5️⃣th.#CWC19 | #RiseOfTheTigers pic.twitter.com/FyOijaBKDi

— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 24, 2019

                                                                             

Top Batting Average

1. Kane Williamson, New Zealand, 186.50

2. Rohit Sharma, India, 106.66

3. Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh: 95.20

4. David Warner, Australia, 89.40

5. Joe Root, England, 84.80

                 

Top Run-Scorers

1. Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh: 476

2. David Warner, Australia: 447

3. Joe Root, England: 424

4. Aaron Finch, Australia: 396

5. Kane Williamson, New Zealand: 373

Full statistics available at the competition's official website.

                       

Bangladesh (262-7) beat Afghanistan (200 all out) by 62 runs

Afghanistan initially fought hard at the crease during their innings, but Bangladesh had too much in reserve.

Bangladesh batted with confidence during the opening innings of the contest, with Shakib producing an all-round display which fans have come to expect from him.

Shakib scored 51 from just 69 balls before being trapped by Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

Mushfiqur Rahim top-scored with 83 for the eventual winners, setting a target of 262.

The Afghan team were composed in their opening 10 overs, but Shakib gave a masterclass in spin bowling to crush their batting hopes.

Afghanistan methodically made their way to 48 without loss. However, Shakib claimed Rahmat Shah's wicket to start the slide.

Shakib grabbed a five-wicket haul as he concreted his position as one of the top players of the competition.

The tournament highlighted Bangladesh's match-winning star:

Best bowling figures for 🇧🇩 in World Cups ✅
Most wickets for 🇧🇩 in World Cups ✅
Most runs for 🇧🇩 in World Cups ✅
Most runs of anyone in #CWC19 ✅

Ladies and gentlemen, Shakib Al Hasan.#RiseOfTheTigers pic.twitter.com/YR47zbcstg

— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 24, 2019

Afghanistan were lacklustre in the final overs, and Bangladesh's bowling attack was allowed to dictate the closing stages.

Samiullah Shenwari scored 49 runs as his side's last man standing, but it wasn't enough for Afghanistan.

Bangladesh are certainly now in the top-four conversation, with England and India looking over their shoulder at the Tigers.

Hosts England will be aiming to bounce back from a shock defeat to Sri Lanka on Tuesday when they take on Australia at the 2019 Cricket World Cup.

The defeat was only England's second of the tournament so far, but they now face a tough end to the group stage with their last three fixtures against Australia, India and New Zealand.

The hosts must win two of their last three matches to guarantee a place in the semi-finals and face a difficult test against arch-rivals Australia, who have been in good form and are second in the standings.

       

Date: Tuesday, June 25

Time: 10:30 a.m. (BST)

TV Info: Sky Sports Main Event (UK), Willow TV (U.S.)

Live Stream: Sky Go (UK), Willow TV (U.S.)

Odds: England 8-11, Australia 11-10, (according to Oddschecker)

        

England vs. Australia Preview

England captain Eoin Morgan has said his team will play aggressively against Australia as they seek a response to their latest defeat, according to Nick Hoult at the Daily Telegraph.

"We resort to aggressive, smart, positive cricket when we lose," he said. "Let's hope that's the case against Australia on Tuesday."

England possess plenty of attacking power with Joe Root, Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Morgan and Jos Buttler all having demonstrated their hitting at the tournament:

"To have a guy in your team who can get these 50-ball hundreds on a consistent basis is just amazing!"

Team-mates are in awe of the fantastic Jos Buttler. How far will he take England in this #CWC19?#WeAreEngland pic.twitter.com/0ZmJJiy6FX

— ICC (@ICC) June 18, 2019

Morgan hit a record 17 sixes against Afghanistan, Roy managed an impressive 153 against Bangladesh. while Root hit his second century of the tournament to inspire England to victory over the West Indies.

England were without opener Roy against Sri Lanka after he tore a hamstring against the West Indies, but he is keen to return against Australia:

https://twitter.com/SamLandsberger/status/1142789582125092866

Australia would love nothing more than to further dent England's World Cup hopes and head into the clash with five wins from their six matches.

The Aussies were not at their fluent best in their opening match but hit their stride last time out in a 48-run win over Bangladesh that all but confirmed their place in the semi-finals.

David Warner smashed 166 from 147 balls to become the tournament's top run scorer:

1️⃣ David Warner – 447 runs
2️⃣ Shakib Al Hasan – 425 runs
3️⃣ Aaron Finch – 396 runs
4️⃣ Joe Root – 367 runs
5️⃣ Rohit Sharma – 319 runs

After that 147-ball 166, @davidwarner31 is at the top of the #CWC19 run charts! 👏 pic.twitter.com/bYQE7ZLJev

— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 20, 2019

England have not beaten Australia at a World Cup since 1992, but the pressure will be on the tournament hosts to end that record at Lord's on Tuesday.

Pakistan breathed new life into their 2019 Cricket World Cup campaign after defeating South Africa by 49 runs on Sunday to clinch their second victory of the tournament and move up to seventh in the table.

Haris Sohail was the star of their attack and notched 89 runs as Pakistan ran up a total of 308 before picking away at the South African order to win at Lord's Cricket Ground in London.

Lungi Ngidi took three wickets for South Africa while Imran Tahir found the mark twice, but the defensive performance wasn't enough to preserve their hopes of a semi-final spot.

South Africa captain Faf du Plessis (63 runs) and Quinton de Kock (47) got their chase off to a bright start, after Hashim Amla had been sent packing leg-before-wicket (lbw) for just two.

Australia's David Warner remains the top run-scorer at the Cricket World Cup with a monstrous tally of 447, while Shakib Al Hasan of Bangladesh is second with 425.

      

Standings (Won, Lost, Net Run Rate, Points)

1. New Zealand: 5, 0, +1.306, 11

2. Australia: 5, 1, +0.849, 10

3. India: 4, 0, +0.809, 9

4. England: 4, 2, +1.457, 8

5. Sri Lanka: 2, 2, -1.119, 6

6. Bangladesh: 2, 3, -0.407, 5

7. Pakistan: 2, 3, -1.265, 5

8. West Indies: 1, 4, +0.190, 3

9. South Africa: 1, 5, -0.324, 3

10. Afghanistan: 0, 6, -1.712, 0

The top four qualify for the semi-finals.

     

Top Run-Scorers

1. David Warner, Australia: 447

2. Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh: 425

3. Joe Root, England: 424

4. Aaron Finch, Australia: 396

5. Kane Williamson, New Zealand: 373

6. Rohit Sharma, India: 320

7. Eoin Morgan, England: 270

8. Mushfiqur Rahim, Bangladesh: 244

9. Steve Smith, Australia: 244

10. Virat Kohli, India: 244

     

Top Wicket-Takers

1. Jofra Archer, England: 15

2. Mitchell Starc, Australia: 15

3. Mohammad Amir, Pakistan: 15

4. Lockie Ferguson, New Zealand: 14

5. Mark Wood, England: 12

6. Pat Cummins, Australia: 11

7. Imran Tahir, South Africa: 10

8. Chris Morris, South Africa: 9

9. Sheldon Cottrell, West Indies: 9

10. Mohammad Saifuddin, Bangladesh: 9

Visit the tournament's official website to see the list in full.

        

Pakistan (308-7) beat South Africa (259-9) by 49 runs

Despite a series a fielding mistakes that could have upset the result had they come earlier in South Africa's innings, Pakistan held on to win by their largest margin so far at this Cricket World Cup.

It's taken coach Mickey Arthur's team some time to catch up on the pace—they have only three games remaining—but statistician Mazher Arshad pointed out their potential route into the semi-finals:

Teams with odd points.

IND and NZ are almost through. South Africa will be out. WI and BD can not go above Pakistan if PAK win the next three games (which means 11 points). So, Pakistan can qualify without worrying about Net Run Rate. #CWC19

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) June 23, 2019

Sohail, 30, spoke to ESPN Cricinfo after the result and said: "It was very difficult to sit out of the games but I knew I would get the opportunity and I was backing myself to do well. When I went in there, the plan was to build a partnership with Babar. It was not easy but we did well."

He notched three maximums and was only one of two Pakistani batsmen to get over the half-century mark alongside team-mate Babar Azam, who scored 69:

Haris Sohail showed Pakistan what they were missing! #CWC19 #PAKvSA https://t.co/EEAKldAGtW pic.twitter.com/Z7QwJ9Y07R

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 23, 2019

Cricket writer Mohandas Menon also praised the display from Sohail:

Highest ODI batting average for Pakistan
min: 1000 runs
+current players
54.89 - Imam-ul-Haq+
51.22 - Babar Azam+
48.81 - Fakhar Zaman+
47.62 - Zaheer Abbas
47.23 - Haris Sohail+
43.40 - Misbah-ul-Haq
42.08 - Mohd Yousuf
41.70 - Javed Miandad#CWC19#SAvPak#PakvSA

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) June 23, 2019

Pakistan's bowlers also had a positive day at the office and made their impact in key moments. Shadab Khan and Wahab Riaz took three wickets apiece, with the latter removing each of South Africa's last three hitters in the space of 24 runs.

However, it was Mohammad Amir who dented South Africa by getting captain Du Plessis out in the 30th over. Sportswriter Saj Sadiq highlighted Amir's consistency at this World Cup so far:

Mohammad Amir at this World Cup:

10-1-49-2
10-1-47-3
10-2-30-5
10-0-67-2
6-0-26-3#CWC19

— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) June 23, 2019

Amir has now taken 15 wickets at this World Cup and is tied for the most players dismissed. 

Pakistan will look to follow up their victory by sealing back-to-back wins for the first time at this tournament when they face New Zealand on Wednesday.

South Africa can't make up the necessary five points they currently require to finish among the top four, meaning morale is sure to be low when they face Sri Lanka on Friday.