ICC World Cup 2019: 2nd Semi-Final, Australia vs England – Smith’s one-man show, Roy-Bairstow’s record and more stats

England broke Australia’s unbeaten record in the World Cup semi-finals with a thumping 8-wicket win in Birmingham. Australia’s batting was wrenched by Chris Woakes, Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid as they shared 8 wickets between them. Steve Smith held the things together from one end with 119-ball 85. His partnerships with Alex Carey (46) and Mitchell Starc (29) could take them to only 223.

Jason Roy (85) and Jonny Bairstow (34) broke the chase with yet another century stand. Joe Root (49*) and Eoin Morgan (45*) ensured the hosts chased down the target with 8 wickets and 107 balls to spare.

All the statistical highlights from England’s comfortable win over Australia in the semi-final game:

End of Australia’s streaks:

1 – Australia lost a semi-final for the first time in the history of the World Cup. They featured in seven semi-finals in the past winning in six of them while another game ended in a Tie. The 1999 edition semi-final, also hosted by Birmingham ended in a Tie but Australia got through to the final as they had defeated South Africa earlier in the group stage.

1992 – For the first time since the 1992 edition, England has defeated Australia in a World Cup game. The Aussies won their previous four CWC matches against England including the one at the Lord’s in this tournament.

A venue of joy for England and a disaster for Australia:

11 – England won each of their last 11 matches in International cricket they played at the Edgbaston. Those 11 victories include five wins that came in the ODI format.

0 – Australia has not won an International match in Birmingham since their Test victory in 2001 while their last ODI win came way back in 1993.

A new record under Smith’s belt:

4 – Steve Smith became the first player with four consecutive fifty-plus scores in World Cup knockouts. The Australian scored a hundred in the semi-final and fifties during the quarters and finals of the 2015 edition. Smith is also the 2nd player with four 50+ scores in World Cup knockouts after Sachin Tendulkar (4).

Roy-Bairstow thump Aussies:

4 – The pair of Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow becomes the first to share four century stands for any wicket in a single edition of the World Cup. They are only the 3rd pair with four 100-run stands in an ODI series/tournaments.

Imran Farhat/Yasir Hameed pair in 2003 home series against New Zealand and Imam-ul-Haq/Fakhar Zaman in the 2018 ODI series against Zimbabwe also had four century partnerships.

A mixed day for Starc:

27 – Number of wickets Mitchell Starc has taken in this World Cup; the most by any bowler in a single edition of the World Cup. Starc went past Glenn McGrath’s tally of 26 wickets during the 2007 CWC.

70 – Starc conceded 70 runs in this game; the 2nd time he has given away as many runs in this tournament. He conceded 74 runs against India; the most by an Australian in a World Cup game. Starc also became the first Australian to conceded 70+ runs twice in a CWC match.

A World Cup of catches for Carey and Root:

12 – Joe Root’s 12 catches as a fielder in this World Cup are the most by any player in a single World Cup. Root went past Ricky Ponting’s 11 catches during the 2003 edition.

20 – Alex Carey has affected 20 dismissals in this World Cup; the 2nd most in a CWC edition after Adam Gilchrist’s 21 in 2003. Carey has 18 catches and two stumpings in this tournament. The 18 catches are joint 2nd most in a single edition as Gilchrist took 21 catches in 2003 while Tom Latham also has 18 catches behind the stumps in the ongoing edition.

A poor game for Finch with the bat:

1 – Aaron Finch became the first captain to be dismissed for a golden duck in a World Cup knockout. Four captains before Finch got out for a duck in a CWC knockout but none on the first ball they faced. Finch is also the first Australian skipper to bag a duck in a CWC knockout match.