England vs Australia, Cricket World Cup 2019: Eoin Morgan's men suffer major blow after 64-run defeat

Re-live all the action from Lord's

It will take time for cricket community to accept David Warner and Steve Smith back, says England's Eoin Morgan

England's faltering World Cup campaign veered further off track as old rivals Australia booked their place in the semi-finals with a 64-run victory at Lord's.

After misadventures against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, England ran aground when chasing for the third time in the tournament, dismissed for an error-strewn 221.

With India and New Zealand still to play, there is now minimal leeway if the world's number one side are to reach the semi-finals of their own competition.

Key Points

• Australia set England 286 to win
• James Vince bowled second ball of the innings
• Root given lbw to Starc for just 8
• Morgan caught on boundary to confirm collapse
• Stokes gets his third half-century of the World Cup before falling to stunning Starc delivery
• Finch reaches century but is dismissed by Archer next ball
• Warner out for 53 after edging Ali to backward point
• Stoinis run-out after mix-up with Smith; Woakes gets wickets of Smith for 38 and Cummins
• Latest Cricket World Cup results

[25 June 2019 18:02 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

CAUGHT AT EXTRA-COVER! AUSTRALIA WIN BY 64 RUNS!

Two boundaries to start the Starc over from Rashid but a third big swing finds a fielder, and England are all out for 221.

[25 June 2019 18:05 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

AUSTRALIA QUALIFY FOR THE SEMI-FINALS OF THE 2019 CRICKET WORLD CUP!

[25 June 2019 18:11 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Aaron Finch is the Man of the Match for his century. Tough call for whoever decides such things today. I'd have plumped for Starc, I think, but I've few qualms with Finch, or Jason Behrendorff for that matter, getting the nod.

Finch comments: "I didn't play too badly, it's nice to get a hundred in a win. To get sent in on a wicket that was seaming around ... Woakesy bowled a hell of a spell. There's teams that you have a bit more confidence when you walk out and play. It was nipping around and seaming but we played well to rein it in, and cash in on width."

[25 June 2019 18:13 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

This is a big win for Australia. They've answered a number of questions about the make-up of their side, with Jason Behrendorff now surely entrenched as the third seamer for the foreseeable future and Nathan Lyon's solidity offering extra control in a bowling attack not necessarily needing potency from the spinner.

More runs for Finch and Warner at the top of the order and a strong fielding effort - better in all facets, and deserved winners.

[25 June 2019 18:15 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Worries for England. Consecutive defeats and the top four spot that seemed so secure after that Afghanistan victory this time last week is threatening to slip between their fingers. 

[25 June 2019 18:16 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

"I thought a lot of today we were outplayed," ​Eoin Morgan reflects. "Australia played and missed a lot and built a good partnership, and us losing early wickets wasn't ideal. The wicket was soft when we started, batting would have been a horrific decision. They dominated until the 25th but to restrict them to 280 was a good effort. But to be 20 for 3 pegs us back considerably."

[25 June 2019 18:19 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

More from Aaron Finch: "That's the first part ticked off, which is a really nice feeling. I think England are a stand-out side who can take you apart with ball and bat quite quickly. It was nice that we found ways to keep getting wickets.

"Behrendorff bowled beautifully, we've you've got a guy who can swing the ball back down the line to the right handers, that's an asset. And Warner is playing nicely, people say it's not the Warner of old, but there's bowling that demands respect, and today was close to his best. You're looking to be positive, but he got us off to a good start. We're confident with what we've got, and we've won five World Cups in our history."

[25 June 2019 18:25 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Very, very impressive from Australia, into the semi-finals with a rather convincing win. They looked short of runs at halfway but a brilliant bowling performance made the margin of victory large, and England leave with further questions over their big match temperament. They are still favourites for a spot in the semi-finals, but with two really tough games to come, this was an opportunity missed.

India are Eoin Morgan's side's next opponents on Sunday, while Aaron Finch and co. now prepare for an Antipodean clash with New Zealand back at Lord's on Saturday.

For now, however, that's that. I've been Harry Latham-Coyle for The Independent - thank you for joining me.