Cricket

Sri Lanka (338 for 6) beat West Indies (315 for 9) by 23 runs during Monday's 2019 Cricket World Cup action in a dead rubber between two teams already out of the race for the knockout stages.

Nicholas Pooran and Avishka Fernando both scored centuries, and Lasith Malinga continued his fine bowling form, taking three wickets despite some poor fielding from his team-mates.

Here are the top run-scorers and wicket-takers after Monday's action:

    

Run-Scorers

David Warner, Australia, 516

Aaron Finch, Australia, 504

Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh, 476

Joe Root, England, 476

Kane Williamson, New Zealand, 454

    

Wicket-Takers

Mitchell Starc, Australia, 24

Lockie Ferguson, New Zealand, 17

Mohammad Amir, Pakistan, 16

Jofra Archer, England, 16

Mohammed Shami, India, 13

For the full stats, visit ESPNcricinfo.com.

   

Monday's dead rubber still provided plenty of entertainment, and while the chase seemed hopeless for most of West Indies' innings, Pooran's fantastic knock had Sri Lanka in a slight panic before they regained their composure in the final overs.

Fernando was the driving force behind the Islanders' excellent innings, as he scored 104 from 103 before he was caught in the 48th over. Cricket writer Freddie Wilde has been impressed by him:

Avishka Fernando is a special player. No batsman to have scored more than 100 runs in this World Cup has a higher @CricViz Timing Rating in the tournament than him. He picks up length very quickly & attacks with poise and confidence. #CWC19

— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) July 1, 2019

Kusal Perera added 64 from 51 and Lahiru Thirimanne contributed an unbeaten 45 to push the target to 339, a seemingly impossible task for the Windies.

Their innings got off to a poor start when Malinga struck early, taking the wicket of opener Sunil Ambris. He was once again in fine form, taking three wickets, and he could have had more:

Two dropped catches in Malinga's fourth over

Gayle - put down at square leg by Thirimanne
Hetmyer - spilled at slip by Mendis #SLvWI #CWC19 https://t.co/ungVUGGq0r

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) July 1, 2019

Chris Gayle only scored 35 from 48, and with the powerful hitter unable to do much, the Windies' chase seemed doomed. But in Pooran an unlikely hero stood up, the 23-year-old playing the best ODI match of his young career:

Maiden ODI hundred✅
Highest score in professional cricket ✅

Nicholas Pooran was one of our players to watch out for ahead of #CWC19, and he's now West Indies' top scorer!🙌https://t.co/xKjRtrembw pic.twitter.com/8AlRV2mZ27

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) July 1, 2019

He would finish with figures of 118 from 103 before he was finally caught, and with Fabian Allen adding 51 from 32 before he was run out, West Indies had an outside chance of completing the unlikely chase.

Their pursuit fell apart in the final overs, however, and Sri Lanka easily closed out the show.

Mohammed Shami continued his remarkable form by taking five wickets on Sunday, but hosts England (337/7) cruised to a 31-run win over India (306/5) to bring their unbeaten run to an end.

Both Jonny Bairstow and Rohit Sharma scored centuries in an entertaining contest at Edgbaston, where England batted well early and got a big boost from Ben Stokes late to put up a strong total. India had no answers, with Sharma and Virat Kohli finding some success during their partnership but never coming close to the required run rate.

Here are the top run-scorers and wicket-takers after Sunday's action.

        

Run-Scorers

David Warner, Australia, 516

Aaron Finch, Australia, 504

Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh, 476

Joe Root, England, 476

Kane Williamson, New Zealand, 454

   

Wicket-Takers

Mitchell Starc, Australia, 24

Lockie Ferguson, New Zealand, 17

Mohammad Amir, Pakistan, 16

Jofra Archer, England, 16

Mohammed Shami, India, 13

For the full stats, visit ESPNcricinfo.com.

   

Bairstow was the top batsman for the hosts on Sunday, bagging a century and laying the foundation for an excellent innings for England.

The team sorely needed someone to step up after their World Cup hopes took a hit after losses to Sri Lanka and Australia, and the 29-year-old delivered:

A brilliant 💯 for Jonny Bairstow 👏

In a must-win game for his team, under huge pressure, England's firestarter has delivered!#CWC19 | #ENGvIND | #WeAreEngland pic.twitter.com/JKLRd4NqHG

— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 30, 2019

He wasn't the only one who did good work with the bat, as Jason Roy (66 from 57) and Joe Root (44 from 54) added a good chunk of runs to the total, and Stokes (79 from 54) was key in pushing the target to 338 in the final overs.

India's top bowlers also stood out. The ever-reliant Jasprit Bumrah only took the one wicket but gave up just 44 runs in his 10 overs. Shami's economy rate was significantly higher, as he gave up 69, but his five-wicket haul slowed down the English batsmen in the middle overs.

The 28-year-old has come up big of late:

Mohammed Shami completes his five-for ✋

It's his first five-wicket haul in ODIs 👏

He now has 13 wickets in three games at #CWC19

What an impact he's having 🔥#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/m8AGmaNgKB

— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 30, 2019

Sharma (102 from 109) and Kohli (66 from 76) struggled to get going initially but eventually settled into a solid partnership that could have laid the foundation for a late Indian rally.

The former scored his 25th career ODI century:

Top man 🔥

Rohit Sharma brings up his 25th ODI ton off 106 deliveries 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/GqGAZ3iR07

— BCCI (@BCCI) June 30, 2019

Kohli was caught in the 29th over, and with several big-hitting batsmen up next, the Men in Blue had the chance to build on the partnership and increase their run rate by taking more risks. But Rishabh Pant (32 from 29) and Hardik Pandya (45 from 33) found little success against England's bowlers, who found their length all day long and came up with key overs that took away all momentum in big moments moments.

Jofra Archer in particular did a fine job slowing down the Men in Blue, and while he finished the match without taking a wicket, he bowled 10 solid overs for an economy rate of 4.50.

England (337/7) beat India (306/5) by 31 runs on Sunday to move back into the top four of the 2019 Cricket World Cup standings, taking the advantage from Pakistan in the race for the knockout stages.

Jonny Bairstow and Rohit Sharma both scored centuries, but the hosts were far more clinical with the ball and the chase never truly got going. The loss was India's first of the tournament.

England now sit one point ahead of Pakistan in the race for the top four. A win over New Zealand on Wednesday will guarantee a spot in the knockout stages, while Pakistan will play their final match of the group stage on Friday, against Bangladesh. 

The hosts got a quick start from the pair of Bairstow (111 from 109) and Jason Roy (66 from 57), who combined for nine runs in the first over and built a steady partnership that lasted for nearly half the innings.

Roy was caught in the 23rd over, and Bairstow lasted until the 32nd, by which point the total was already up to 205, with plenty of big hitters still to come.

He drew praise for his efforts from football pundit Gary Lineker:

Great stuff from Bairstow. All talk and plenty of action. Well played. 👏🏻👏🏻

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) June 30, 2019

India's bowlers started to find their length in the middle overs, however, and the in-form Mohammed Shami started to do plenty of damage. He ended the match with an incredible five-wicket haul, making a little bit of World Cup history along the way:

Only two bowlers have taken 4 wickets in 3 consecutive World Cup matches. Mohammad Shami in 2019 and Shahid Afridi in 2011. #EngvInd

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) June 30, 2019

Jasprit Bumrah only took a single wicket, but he also limited England's batsmen to just 44 runs in his 10 overs, showing some great death bowling. He drew praise from former England cricketer Michael Vaughan:

How good is @Jaspritbumrah93 !!! His last 5 overs were an exhibition of to bowl at the death ... Best in the World by a country mile ... #CWC19

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 30, 2019

But England finished well, despite Bumrah's strong bowling. The hosts picked up some steam late, pushing the run rate back up thanks to excellent work from Ben Stokes (79 from 54).

The all-rounder showed off his deep bag of tricks during his knock:

We thought Ben Stokes was a left-hander... 🤯#CWC19 | #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/f39dw6uVMb

— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 30, 2019

He was caught in the final over, helping set a big target of 338.

England started well with the ball, and KL Rahul lost his wicket before he could get a run on the board, bringing Virat Kohli (66 from 76) into play. He and Sharma (102 from 109) couldn't build a rhythm early, and the Men in Blue scored just 28 from the first 10 overs.

Kohli and Sharma needed a lot of time to find their groove, but the chase started to come alive in the middle overs, highlighted by three straight boundaries from Sharma off Stokes to start the 26th over. Kohli lost his wicket in the 29th, however, by which point the Men in Blue desperately needed to up the pace. 

Sharma got his century in the 35th over, the 25th of his ODI career:

Top man 🔥

Rohit Sharma brings up his 25th ODI ton off 106 deliveries 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/GqGAZ3iR07

— BCCI (@BCCI) June 30, 2019

He lost his wicket soon after, however, with the hard-hitting Hardik Pandya (45 from 33) taking his place as the required run rate had risen to double digits. 

And despite his best efforts, England's bowlers remained in control, never giving the momentum to the Men in Blue. Liam Plunkett took three wickets, but Jofra Archer was the star of the show, giving up just 45 runs in his 10 overs. 

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.