Decisive First Ten

12:04PM

Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy just starting to get the feel for it as they find a few boundaries to release some of the tension. The longer they stay at the crease the more England’s chances grow.

11:53PM

Nice and tight early from both Behrendorff and Starc. Just six runs from the first 3 overs but the Aussies can’t afford to give the England openers time, they need wickets.

11:40PM

The England innings is underway with Jason Behrendorff steaming in. The first 10 overs will be critical in the outcome of this match. Australia need to crash the top order early or the run chase could get away from them fast.

Australia all out 223

A bit disappointing from Australia’s point of view. Other than Smith and Carey, they were unable to build any decent partnerships and lost wickets at the wrong time. Credit has to go to England who bowled well throughout the innings.

Can Australia defend 223? Of course they can, but the bowlers will have to be on the money and knock over the England top order.

11:09PM

ALL OVER! Mark Wood knocks over Behrendorff and Australia are bowled out for 223.

11:02PM

Another one. Mitchell Starc edges one to the keeper the very next ball. It’s 9/217 with just under 3 overs left.

11:00PM

WOW! Absolutely stunning bit of fielding from Jos Butler to run out Steve Smith with a direct hit. A big blow for Australia who need to etch out every run they can get. A great innings from the captain, departs for 85.

 

10:55PM

Ooo close! Mark Wood wraps the Australian captain on the pads but given not out. England use their remaining review but it comes up umpires call.

10:43PM

Mitchell Starc doing a job with the bat as he clatters one over mid-off for six. He’s real work will start when he gets the ball in hand later in the day. Australia pass the 200 mark in the 45th over.

10:26PM

Steve Smith is still at the crease, so a decent total is still possible for Australia but the tail needs to stick around and get him on strike. The Aussies are 7-176.

 

10:18PM

CAUGHT! Adil Rashid strikes again, this time to remove Pat Cummins who edges to slip. Smith running out of partners here as Australia hurting at 6/177 with just over 12 overs left.

No Show

10:06PM

OUT! Another start for Maxwell and a wasted opportunity. He goes for 22 from 23 balls after lofting a drive to cover off Joffra Archer. The quick now has 2/23 from 8 overs.

9:52PM

Looks like Maxwell means business today. He dispatches Rashid over long-on for the first six of the match. Steve Smith continues to anchor the innings at the other end on 61 not out.

9:47PM

Big innings this for Glenn Maxwell. He managed to keep his spot in the side despite the criticism leveled at him this week over his World Cup form so far.

Maxwell’s World Cup:

Opponent Date Score
South Africa 6 Jul 2019 12
New Zealand 29 Jun 2019 1
England 25 Jun 2019 12
Bangladesh 20 Jun 2019 32
Sri Lanka 15 Jun 2019 46*
Pakistan 12 Jun 2019 20
India 9 Jun 2019 28
West Indies 6 Jun 2019 0
Afghanistan 1 Jun 2019 4*

Glenn Maxwell

Double Whammy

9:37PM

GONE! Two quick wickets for England and they are back on top. Marcus Stoinis lasts just two balls before being trapped lbw by Rashid. Australia in trouble at 5/118.

9:33PM

OUT! A bit of a brain fade from Alex Carey and he holes out in the deep to the spinner Rashid.

Compelling Partnership

9:28PM

Enormous courage from Alex Carey after being whacked on the chin earlier in the match. He’s all patches up but would be in a significant amount of pain.

 

9:21PM

The hundred comes up for Australia in the 25th over. They are really battling hard to get Australia back into the match and it’s slowly swinging back to an even contest.

9:17PM

The run rate is now at 4.01 as Steve Smith and Alex Carey both move into the 30’s. England are starting to spread the field and the singles are two’s are beginning to flow.

9:00PM

These two have now put on 57 as they start to build Australia’s innings. It’s hard to know what will be a decent total at this stage but New Zealand showed that you can defend 239. If the Aussies can scrounge up 240+ anything can happen.

 

Steady Smith

8:43PM

Smith and Carey are starting to look a bit more comfortable at the crease, stemming the bleeding after the carnage in the first 10 overs. Drinks are on the field and the Aussies are 3/47 from the first 15 overs.

8:35PM

Hard to believe it’s been 20 years since that incredible World Cup semi-final between Australia and South Africa. An interesting stat that Australia have never lost a World Cup semi-final. Can we keep the record alive tonight?

1999 World Cup Semi Final

8:31PM

Slow going here for the Aussies, runs are hard to come by. The current run rate is under 3, but we all saw what happened in the other semi-final between England and New Zealand.

8:19PM

Steve Smith has to steady the ship now for Australia. He’s a key wicket here for England. He’s finding it tough going at the moment with 5 from 28 balls. Carey has to stick with him and put together a decent partnership if the Aussies want to post a defendable total.

 

 

8:07PM

Ouch! A cracking short ball from Joffa Archer collects Alex Carey on the chin. A small break in play to make sure he is ok and a bit of a breather for Australia to settle.

Early wickets

7:59PM

BOWLED HIM! Chris Woakes goes right through Peter Handscomb and the World Cup debutant goes for 4. Australia are in deep trouble at 3/15. Amazing start here for England, after losing the toss they couldn’t have dreamt getting 3 wickets in the first seven overs.

7:45PM

England are all over the Aussies at the start. Peter Handscomb comes to the wicket on his World Cup debut and survives an lbw shout. England review but it goes back to umpires call.

 

 

7:44PM

CAUGHT! Warner goes early too. Short ball catches the opener off guard and he nicks it off Chris Woakes.

7:35PM

OUT! Archer traps the Australian captain Aaron Finch first ball of the second over. It’s sent upstairs but it remains and Australia are 1/4.

 

7:31PM

We are away at Edgbaston and a positive start for David Warner as he dispatches the first ball of the match through the covers for four.

Ready to Rumble

7:24PM

The players are out on the field and are getting set for the national anthems. It’s going to be a cracker of a match. The English have the benefit of the home conditions and the crowd behinds them while the Aussies have plenty of experience in World Cup finals.

 

The Toss – Australia Bat First

7:05PM

Aaron Finch has won the toss and Australia will bat first at Edgebaston.

 

6:44PM

The toss could be crucial to today’s result and the pitch looks pretty decent. Getting runs on the board in a final is always a good thing so you think would think whoever wins the toss would chose to bat.

 

The Teams

7:08PM

It will be interesting to see whether the ‘Big Show’ Glenn Maxwell will make the cut. Peter Handscomb will make his World Cup debut, as he replaces the injured Usman Khawaja.

 

Birmingham Weather

6:00PM AEST

A few showers are predicted around Birmingham today, so hopefully they won’t affect play. It looks like they will come through later in the day. Lets hope we don’t get a repeat of the first semi-final.

 

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