England booked their place in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 final against New Zealand with a thumping eight-wicket win over the defending champions Australia at Edgbaston on Thursday.
Jason Roy hit a blistering 85 as England reached the victory target with more than 100 balls to spare after restricting Australia to 223/10 in 49 overs.
Openers Roy and Jonny Bairstow (34) added 124 for the first wicket, their fourth consecutive century stand.
Earlier, Chris Woakes and Adil Rashid took three wickets apiece.
Woakes struck twice early on at his Warwickshire home ground as Australia slumped to 14-3 after winning the toss.
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.
Former skipper Steve 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 set England a testing target.
So now, England – the losing finalists in 1979, 1987 and 1992 – will face New Zealand, who are also yet to win the World Cup after finishing runners-up to Australia four years ago, in Sunday’s final at Lord’s following the Black Caps’ surprise semi-final win over India.
Here are some of the Twitter reactions:
So…New England vs New Zealand on 14th then.
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash)
That innings, regardless of the farcical end, was pure bliss ❤️. Perhaps batsman will stop just trying to get away with being plumb when they see what can happen as a result 🙄
— Graeme Swann (@Swannyg66)
We're 8 wickets too short today.
— Brad Hogg (@Brad_Hogg)
Congratulations to England on beating Australia and winning the semi-finals . Must be a cracking game at Lords where a first time World Champion will be crowned
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281)
England too good today
— @BrettLee_58 (@BrettLee_58)
Dominating performance from England.. the Aussie attack completely Butchered by .. a complete game in all departments by the home team.. getting to Lords like a Lord
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh)
So we are going to have a first time World Champion ! Well played England! Looking forward to Lord’s
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif)
So come what may… July 14th..there will be a new country crowned as World Cup Cricket Champions.. 🏴 or 🇳🇿Arguably the greatest opportunity in their cricketing history
— Shaun Pollock (@7polly7)
Love it when I hear “Sweet Caroline” around the ground. Lovely buzz…. Congratulations on making the final … show plenty of power all the time but resilience and character was needed to turn the campaign around.. very well done 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69)
Well that was easy enough…👏👏👏
— Nick Compton (@thecompdog)
England!!!! 🔥🔥🔥 it’s coming home 🏴
— Mason Crane (@masoncrane32)
Too good today , bad luck to our boys they came up short today but did well throughout . @MacquarieSport looking forward to the final for a first time winner 👍good luck both teams
— Darren Lehmann (@darren_lehmann)
And the are on a roll !! What a dominating performance!!
— MithunManhas5 (@MithunManhas)
WE ARE GOING TO THE WORLD CUP FINAL!!! 🦁🦁🦁🏴🏴🏴
— England's Barmy Army 🏴🎺 (@TheBarmyArmy)
When league table toppers did not make it to the finals.
1987: India & Pakistan
2011: Pakistan & South Africa
2019: India & Australia— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman)
