Australia secured a 33-run victory against defending champions England in the ICC World Cup, eliminating England from the competition. Australia’s fifth consecutive win in the tournament brings them closer to a semi-final berth alongside India and South Africa, who have already qualified.
Chasing a target of 287 in Ahmedabad, England could only manage 253 runs in 48.1 overs, despite a resilient 64 from Ben Stokes. It was their sixth defeat in seven matches, leaving them at the bottom of the 10-team table.
Australian spinner Adam Zampa played a pivotal role in the victory, taking 3 wickets for 21 runs with his leg spin, disrupting England’s batting efforts. Zampa had earlier contributed with the bat, scoring 29 runs.
Wickets continued to fall for England, and Zampa’s catch in the outfield helped dismiss David Willey. The England team faced difficulties against Australia’s bowling, losing key wickets in quick succession.
Australia’s strong batting performance was led by Marnus Labuschagne, who top-scored with 71 runs and received support from Steve Smith (44), Cameron Green (47), Marcus Stoinis (35), and Adam Zampa (29 off 19 balls).
For England, Chris Woakes was the standout bowler, claiming 4 wickets for 54 runs. He received support from fast bowler Mark Wood and leg-spinner Adil Rashid, both taking 2 wickets each.
England now faces a challenging task to secure a place in the 2025 Champions Trophy, with the top seven teams from this World Cup gaining entry into the tournament. Their remaining matches will determine their fate in this regard. England captain Jos Buttler expressed disappointment at the team’s performance, and the loss has left them in a tough position.
This victory for Australia reaffirms their strong position in the ICC World Cup and their aspirations for the semi-finals.
