England vs Australia World Cup score: England chase down 224 to win
Follow LIVE reaction as England beat Australia in the Cricket World Cup semi-finals at Edgbaston to set up a meeting with New Zealand in Sunday's final
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Your support makes all the difference.England swaggered into their first World Cup final in 27 years, blowing away rivals Australia by eight wickets in a magnificent display of attacking cricket that sets up a winner-takes-all date with New Zealand at Lord's.
The three-times runners-up are now firm favourites to land the trophy for the first time on Sunday, having thrashed the Black Caps by 119 runs in the group stage, and head to the home of cricket on the back of a sensational performance at Edgbaston. Chris Woakes, Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid performed wonders with the ball after Australia chose to bat first, reducing the visitors to 14 for three in a frenzied opening burst and ultimately restricting them to a lacklustre 223 all out.
England would have been mindful that they were bowled out for 221 and beaten by the same attack last month, but Jason Roy missed that game with a torn hamstring and his brilliant 85 put the game beyond a shellshocked Australia, who went down with 107 balls remaining.
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Having already thrashed nine fours and five sixes, he would surely have gone on to a career-best hundred had he not been robbed in messy circumstances. Given caught behind despite making no contact with the ball, he instantly called for a review only to belatedly realise Jonny Bairstow had already used it up.
Roy lost his cool, remonstrating on the pitch and on his reluctant walk off, and needed soothing words from umpire Marais Erasmus to stop things getting worse.
The sour tone of his dismissal cannot detract from his outstanding efforts, which almost single-handedly banished England's concerns about chasing, nor from the raucous celebrations which followed on the back of a decisive stand of 79 between Joe Root (49no) and Eoin Morgan (45no).
Archer and Woakes also excelled, taking two for 32 and three for 20, while Rashid bagged three scalps in his best display to date.
34.0 - Aus 152-5, S Smith 63, G Maxwell 21, A Rashid 2-49 (8.0)
A good over for Australia with eight runs coming from it. Maxwell has a run-a-ball 21 and looks dangerous. Smith needs to bat to the end of the innnings.
Jofra Archer continues for England.
WICKET! Maxwell is deceived by Archer
A slower delivery from Archer holds up in the pitch and Maxwell doesn't pick it. He's stationary at the crease and just pushes the bat at the ball offering up the easiest of catches to Eoin Morgan at cover.
Maxwell c Morgan b Archer 22(23), Aus 157-6
35.0 - Aus 157-5, S Smith 63, P Cummins 0, J Archer 2-23 (8.0)
England are into the bowlers now as Pat Cummins strides to the wicket. How does Steve Smith go now, continue as usual or try to be more expansive?
36.0 - Aus 161-6, S Smith 67, P Cummins 2, A Rashid 2-53 (9.0)
Four runs off Rashid's ninth over keeps England in control.
36.3 - Aus 163-6, S Smith 67, P Cummins 4, J Archer 2-25 (8.3)
Morgan keeps Archer going and it almost works. Archer bowls a slower ball to Cummins who pops it back to Archer but the ball lands just in front of the fast bowler.
37.0 - Aus 165-6, S Smith 67, P Cummins 6, J Archer 2-28 (9.0)
Thirteen overs to go and Rashid is going to bowl out.
GOOD CATCH! Root takes a sharp catch at slip
Rashid continues his good form, Smith takes a single off the third ball trusting Cummins to see out the over. He can't do it as he guides the ball to Joe Root at first slip. Root gets both hands to the ball but it went quickly.
Cummins c Root b Rashid 6(10) Aus 166-7
38.0 - Aus 166-7, S Smith 68, M Starc 0, A Rashid 3-54 (10.0)
Rashid finishes up with a three-for. 3-54 off his ten overs and it's been a good spell from England's leg spinner.
39.0 - Aus 171-7, S Smith 70, M Starc 3, J Archer 2-32 (10.0)
Steve Smith is still showing confidence in the lower order, he's happy to take the singles and leave Starc on strike.
Archer flings the ball down at pace but the Aussies are up to the task. They take four runs off his final over.
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