SA-WI match abandoned following rain

In front of a raucously partisan crowd in Edgbaston, England ensured that the 2019 World Cup will see first-time champions crowned with a dominant eight-wicket defeat of five-time winners Australia in the second semifinal yesterday.

After a superb bowling performance that found every Australian batsman bar Steve Smith wanting, England chased a sub-par 223 with little fuss. Skipper Eoin Morgan hit Jason Behrendorff over mid on to secure the win with 17.5 overs to spare, setting off fireworks and uproarious applause.

England have never won a World Cup despite playing three previous finals, and will face New Zealand -- who have also never won the mega event and have reached their second successive title decider -- in the final at Lord’s on July 14.

England’s chase was built around an explosive opening stand between Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy that realised 124 runs in just 17.2 overs and negated any sting in Australia’s attack. Roy was second to depart in the 20th over with the score on 147, but Morgan (45 off 39) and Joe Root (49 off 46) maintained England’s dominance with an unbroken 79-run stand.

It was Roy who dominated the match-shaping opening partnership by scoring 85 off 65 balls. Those runs were worth their weight in gold because, as evidenced in India’s defeat to New Zealand in the first semifinal the day before, a World Cup knockout carries pressure of its own and a slow start or early wickets would only have let Australia back into the contest.

Roy started his carnage with two cover-driven boundaries in the fourth over off Mitchell Starc, who was later to become the highest wicket-taker in a single edition of the World Cup by trapping Bairstow in front for his 27th wicket of the edition. It was otherwise not a happy outing for Starc as he bore the brunt of Roy’s onslaught, leaking 70 runs from nine overs. Roy brought up his 50 off his 50th delivery in the 15th over, after which England were on 95 without loss. If Australia were thinking that a fightback was still a possibility, the next over would have crushed that hope. Aaron Finch brought on the part-time leg-spin of Smith, and Roy launched him for three successive sixes, with the last one bouncing off the roof of the five-story tall media stand behind the sightscreen. Bairstow departed two overs later and Roy himself was denied a century when umpire Kumar Dharmasena adjudged him caught-behind off a Pat Cummins bouncer when replays showed that the ball was nowhere near his gloves as he played and missed the pull. Roy protested, but England did not have a review as Bairstow had used up their lone unsuccessful one when challenging a pretty plumb leg-before decision -- perhaps England’s lone mistake in an otherwise perfect performance.

Earlier, Australia had come into the semifinal with a world of confidence, having beaten England in their league game on June 25 and boasting an all-win record in six previous World Cup semifinals. England, whose defeat at Lord’s against the old enemy formed part of a two-game dip that threatened their semifinal chances, had rallied with victories in their last two league games and yesterday, burst Australia’s bubble inside the first seven overs after losing the toss by taking three wickets with just 14 on the board.

Skipper Aaron Finch departed for a golden duck in the first ball of the second over, playing around an inswinger from the fiery Jofra Archer to be trapped plumb in front, although he wasted their single unsuccessful review. Smith had then entered as the crowd booed loudly.

In the next over, Chris Woakes accounted for David Warner -- Australia’s highest scorer in the World Cup with 636 runs leading into the match -- with a ball that reared from short of a good length and caught the edge of a hopping Warner’s bat on way to second slip.

The pitch was offering early-morning movement with a good helping of pace, and allied with accurate and incisive bowling from Archer and Woakes, Australia found the going tough and limped to 14 in the sixth over. That was when Woakes got one to nip sharply back off the seam and bowl Pete Handscomb.

Then followed the only partnership of note between Smith and Alex Carey as the duo put on 103 for the fourth wicket. Australia reached 27 for three after the first 10 overs and while Carey in particular tried to cut loose, excellent ground fielding from England ensured that Australia were kept on a tight leash. Smith took 34 balls to score his first seven runs, but started making up for lost time with a pulled boundary off Ben Stokes in the 16th over. He was soon on 33 off 50 balls and with the introduction of leg-spinner Adil Rashid, the run rate picked up as Australia’s recovery seemed underway with the score on 103 for three after 25 overs. However, in the 28th over, Carey let the advantage slip by skipping down to Rashid and holing out at deep midwicket. Marcus Stoinis lasted just a ball before he was trapped in front by a perfectly pitched googly. In between, Smith brought up his half-century to another chorus of boos.

Glenn Maxwell then raised hopes of a second recovery when he hit Rashid for a six over long on in the 32nd over. But that is also when the new pace challenge started for Australia in the form of the returning Archer. The right-arm pacer mixed 140kph-plus deliveries with 120kph slower balls and Maxwell was undone by the latter, checking a drive and being caught at cover for 22.

Pat Cummins did not last long, falling victim to another Rashid googly that he edged to slip to leave the score on 166 for seven. Mitchell Starc stayed with Smith during a 51-run eighth-wicket stand that carried the score to 217 for seven, but just when it looked like Australia may make a match of it with a score nearing 250, Smith was run out brilliantly by wicketkeeper Jos Buttler, whose direct hit at the non-striker’s end in the 48th over found Smith just short of his stumps, forcing the brave innings to be cut short on 119-ball 85. Starc was caught behind for 29 off the next ball bowled by Woakes. Mark Wood then bowled an inch-perfect yorker to bowl Behrendorff in the next over to bowl Australia out for a sub-par 223 with an over to spare.

New Zealand reached their second World Cup final with a stunning 18-run win over shell-shocked India at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

New Zealand stunned India to reach their second successive World Cup final as they survived Ravindra Jadeja's late heroics to clinch a thrilling 18-run win at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

It was a superb display by the underdog Black Caps, who came into the match on the back of three straight defeats by Pakistan, Australia and England and only qualified for the semi-finals on net run-rate, while India topped the 10-team group stage.

New Zealand will face the winners of Thursday's second semi-final between Australia -- the team that beat them in the 2015 final -- and hosts England in Sunday's title match at Lord's.

Two-time world champions India lost key batsmen Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul for just one run each.

They slumped to five for three in pursuit of a target of 240 and were 24 for four when Dinesh Karthik was out.

New Zealand pacemen Matt Henry (three for 37) and Trent Boult (two for 42) did the damage with the new ball.

India, one of the pre-tournament favourites, were all but beaten at 92 for six when Jadeja came in to bat alongside veteran former captain MS Dhoni.

The pair gave India hope during a World Cup record seventh-wicket stand of 116, all-rounder Jadeja boldly leading the way with 77.

Jadeja hit well-struck sixes off both Jimmy Neesham and left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner during a 39-ball fifty.

With 10 overs left, India were 150 for six and needing a further 90 runs off the final 60 balls of the innings.

Jadeja got them closer with a superb straight six off fast bowler Lockie Ferguson and, with five overs left, the target was down to 52.

But with India in sight of an amazing win, left-hander Jadeja's 59-ball innings, featuring four fours and four sixes, ended when he skyed Boult to New Zealand captain Kane Williamson.

It was a fine, if ultimately futile, effort from Jadeja, dismissed as a "bits and pieces player" by former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar, after he had also taken one for 34 with his left-arm spin and been brilliant in the field.

With India needing 31 off two overs, Dhoni uppercut Ferguson for six to the delight of the massed ranks of India fans in the crowd.

But going for a second run to keep the strike, the 38-year-old Dhoni, India's 2011 World Cup-winning captain, was just run out by Martin Guptill's direct hit for 50 off 72 balls.

- Shock victory -

With 23 required off the last six balls, tailender Yuzvendra Chahal glanced Neesham for four.

But the match finished with three balls to spare when Chahal edged to wicketkeeper Tom Latham, a review confirming his dismissal and New Zealand's shock victory.

Sharma, who had already made a five hundreds at this tournament -- a record for a single World Cup, began the procession of top-order dismissals when he was caught behind off Henry.

Kohli fell next, lbw to a superb inswinger from left-armer Boult.

Kohli reviewed but replays upheld English official Richard Illingworth's original out decision on umpire's call.

India were then five for three when Rahul was brilliantly caught by a diving Latham after edging Henry.

At that stage, India had lost three wickets for one run in 10 balls.

Neesham then held a brilliant superb one-handed catch at backward point to dismiss Karthik off Henry.

Rishabh Pant holed out for 32 when he was caught at deep midwicket by Colin de Grandhomme following a lofted sweep off Santner.

India suffered another setback when Hardik Pandya, slogging across the line, skyed Santner to Williamson at midwicket as he fell for 32.

Earlier, New Zealand added 28 runs in the remaining 23 balls of their innings to finish on 239-8 after rain had stopped play on Tuesday.

Ross Taylor, who resumed on 67 not out, top-scored with 74 after Williamson had made a masterly 67 in awkward conditions.

(AFP, Manchester)

Dhoni run out

A maginificent throw from Martin Guptill as Dhoni wants two but Guptill's direct hit takes off the bails before Dhoni could scamper back. India's last hope possibly gone after Dhoni run out.

Boult removes Jadeja

Trent Boult came into the attack in the 48th over to pick up the wicket of the dangerman Ravindra Jadeja. All hope rests on Dhoni as India neede 31 runs in 2 overs. Jadeja fell after scoring 77 off 59 deliveries.

Dhoni-Jadeja star in century stand

India have come back into the match courtesy of a 100-run partnership between Jadeja and Dhoni. The partnership cam in just 97 deliveries after India were struggling at 92 for six in the 31st over. India need 42 runs in four overs.

Jadeja smashes fifty

Ravindra Jadeja has been in exquisite touch on a day when most of the top order Indian batsmen have failed miserably. He gets to his fifty off just 39 balls when he clipped away an James Neesham delivery in the 42nd over to take a double. 

Dhoni, Jadeja star in fifty-run stand as India look to fight back

MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja stitched together an ongoing 67-run seventh-wicket stand after India were left struggling at 92 for six in the 31st over. The partnership between the duo has revived some hope for the Indians who have been struggling from the start of today's game. India require another 90 runs from 60 balls with four wickets in hand.

Santner removes Pandya with Kiwis firmly on top

The required run-rate was escalating and Hardhik Pandya, looking to get some momentum into the innings looked to heave Mitchell Santner over mid-wicket only to get holed out as the ball looped up after taking the top edge of the bat. Captain Kane Williamson ran back to take the catch with India in big trouble after losing their sixth wicket. Santner bags his second of the match as Ravindra Jadeja comes to the crease to accompany Dhoni. Pandya leaves after scoring a 62-ball 32. India need a further 146 runs from 19 overs.

New Zealand on top after Pant dismissal

Rishabh Pant goes for a wild heave off a Mitchell Santner delivery over the midwicket but only finds the fielder. India were looking to build a good partnership through Pant and Hardik Pandya after their early slump. The duo had strung together a 47-run stand before Pant lost his pateince and fell prey to a Santner delivery in the 23rd over. India in deep trouble in the first semifinal of the World Cup at Old Trafford in Manchester today.  

India lose four as New Zealand on top

Dinesh Karthik was sent back as Matt Henry gets his third.

Neesham dived to his left to grab a scintillating catch to dismiss Karthik who never looked comfortable on the field. He took 22 balls to open his innings but as soon as looked to get a start, Henry showed his skills to send Karthik back.

KL Rahul nicked one to the New Zealand keeper Latham as India find themselves in trouble.

Top three of the Indian batting line-up could not make themselves comfortable in the middle as the New Zealand seamers run havoc on the field. The batsmen look to have no answers to the bowling spell by Trent Boult and Matt Henry. 

Latham threw himself to his right and grabbed the ball with both hands in front of Ross  Taylor at first slip. It would have been better if Rahul left the ball alone. Instead, he nicked with it. Rohit Sharma was sent back in the same manner.

Dinesh Karthik came out in the middle to rescue struggling India

Virat Kohli sent back as India lose wickets within three overs.

The Indian skipper was sent back by Trent Boult as he was caught leg before wicket. Considered as one of the best chasers of the game, the departure of Virat was a huge blow to the Indians.

Rohit Sharma was sent back to the pavilion by Matt Henry.

Fuller than a good length ball angled in towards off stump as it straightened away aat the very last moment. The line prompted Rohit to play the ball. A huge blow as the in form opener was sent back in chase of 239 runs.

New Zealand post 239 for eight on reserve day

New Zealand posted a challenging 239 for eight in their semifinal against India, which resumed today after being suspended yesterday due to persistent rain at the Old Trafford in Manchester.

After being suspended for persistent rain yesterday, New Zealand resumed today from where they had left off yesterday -- 211 for five in 46.1 overs. With 23 more balls to play, New Zealand added 28 more runs on the board, losing three wickets on the day. Ross Taylor, who resumed the day on 67, was the first one to fall to a run out after scoring 74 off 90 deliveries. After that the Kiwis could only manage 239 for eight with Santner scoring nine off six balls and Trent Boult with an unbeaten run-a-ball 3.

IND v NZ: Play resumes on reserve day

After being suspended due to persistent rain yesterday, the semifinal between India and New Zealand has resumed on the reserve day today at the Old Trafford in Manchester.