Ben Stokes' 64 in vain as England lose to Australia by 33 runs to be dumped out of the Cricket World Cup; defending champions slip to sixth defeat in seven games, out for 253 chasing 287; Jos Buttler's struggling side have Netherlands and Pakistan left to play
Sunday 5 November 2023 07:14, UK
England's slender hopes of reaching the Cricket World semi-finals are officially over following a 33-run defeat to Australia, their fifth loss in a row and sixth overall of an utterly dismal tournament.
Pakistan's rain-affected victory over New Zealand earlier in the day meant the defending champions would still have had the slimmest of chances of making the top four had they won in Ahmedabad.
However, they malfunctioned with the bat once again, all out for 253 in a chase of 287, having been rolled for 215, 170, 156 and 129 by Afghanistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and India respectively.
England had a sniff while Ben Stokes (64 off 90) was at the crease, with the Test captain putting on 84 with Dawid Malan (50 off 64) from 19-2 and then 63 with Moeen Ali (42 off 43) from 106-4.
But when Stokes was out to leg-spinner Adam Zampa (3-21) - yelling "no" as he swept the leading wicket-taker in the competition to short fine leg - and then Moeen holed out off the same bowler, all belief looked lost at 186-7 in the 40th over.
David Willey (15), Chris Woakes (32) and Adil Rashid (20) kept England just about afloat with late boundaries but Australia ran out relatively convincing winners in the end, with Rashid last out to the first ball of the 49th over.
Defeat was harsh on Woakes (4-54) and Rashid (2-38), the standouts of a fine bowling performance as England dismissed Australia for 286 in 49.3 overs, an innings in which Marnus Labuschagne (71) top-scored before falling lbw to Mark Wood (2-70).
But the batters let England down again - Jonny Bairstow (0) caught down the leg-side from the first ball of the chase; Joe Root nicking off for 13; Liam Livingstone (2) pulling tamely to midwicket and skipper Jos Buttler (1) skying the impressive Zampa to long-off as he holed out seventh ball.
Buttler is averaging 15.14 in the tournament with just 106 runs in seven innings and has only reached 20 once in his last five knocks, while Bairstow is averaging just 20.14, Root 26.85 and Livingstone a paltry 10 with a top score of 27.
England's final two games, against Netherlands on Wednesday and Pakistan next Saturday, are now purely about restoring pride after an appalling few weeks and aiming to finish inside the top eight in order to qualify for the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
Australia, meanwhile, have moved closer to the semi-finals after a fifth consecutive victory, although there were signs of fallibility against England as a number of players failed to press on after making starts - Steve Smith (44), Cameron Green (47) and Marcus Stoinis (35) the guilty parties.
Labuschagne added 75 with Smith for the third wicket after Woakes accounted for Australia openers David Warner (15) and Travis Head (11) inside six overs - Head caught at slip before Warner ballooned a slower ball to midwicket.
Rashid then had Smith and Josh Inglis (3) pouched at backward point by Moeen in successive overs, taking his tally of wickets against Australia in one-day internationals to 47.
Stands of 61 between Labuschagne and Green and then 45 between Green and Stoinis followed, before Australia lost three wickets for 24 runs from 223-5, starting when Green was bowled on the sweep by Willey.
A partnership of 38 from 29 balls between Zampa (29) and Mitchell Starc (8) frustrated England but Woakes then polished off the innings with two wickets in the final over as Australia lost their final five batters for 63 runs.
That lower-order collapse did not cost Australia in the end, although there were nervy moments as Stokes - who began scratchily before finding his rhythm as his innings progressed - shared fifty-plus partnerships with Malan and Moeen, and Willey, Woakes and Rashid then smoked late boundaries.
Zampa, however, followed his enterprising cameo with the bat and three wickets with the ball by taking an excellent diving catch on the run at fine leg to dismiss Willey, leaving Woakes and Rashid with too much to do.
England captain Jos Buttler:
"It's certainly a low point. I've had a few but definitely as a captain, to be stood in this position when you arrive in India with very high hopes is incredibly tough. We haven't done ourselves justice.
"Coming into the tournament we fancied ourselves to have a real go at it and push whoever it was going to be all the way.
"We've let ourselves down. We've let people down at home that support us through thick and thin.
"My own form has been the biggest concern. Coming into the tournament I felt in a great space. So to have not played as well as I can in such a pivotal role is disappointing. My own performance with the bat has hurt us."
Australia skipper, Pat Cummins:
"The boys have played brilliantly. I feel like every game we have improved a little bit. I still don't think we played the complete game or have really closed out a game but it feels like it's all come together.
"You've seen a marked improvement. Everyone's diving around, all muddy. All the boys want to be in the heat of things, so it's great."
The top two - India and South Africa - collide in Kolkata on Sunday. India are already in the semi-finals after seven wins from seven and South Africa have also made the last four after six wins from seven, with their sole loss coming against Netherlands.
Watch live on Sky Sports Cricket from 8am (first ball at 8.30am).
Catch every game from the Cricket World Cup live on Sky Sports between now and the final on Sunday November 19 - or stream without a contract through NOW.
