Birmingham: England knocked Australia out of the Champions Trophy with a convincing 40-run win via Duckworth-Lewis method in a crucial rain-hit Group A match here on Saturday.
England rode Ben Stokes's brilliant hundred and some incisive bowling by Mark Wood and Adil Rashid, who returned with four-wicket hauls each, at Edgbaston here.
Australia's loss paved the way for Bangladesh to clinch a maiden berth in the Champions Trophy semi-finals. The Tigers had stunned New Zealand by five wickets in Cardiff on Friday.
Opting to bowl, Engalnd's Wood (4/33) and Rashid (4/41) bowled superbly as Australia suffered a late batting collapse to post 277 for nine.
Aaron Finch (68) and Steve Smith (56) scored twin half-centuries at the top to lay the foundation but Australia lost five wickets within 15 runs to lose the momentum. It was Travis Head's unbeaten 71-run innings which helped them manage a respectable score.
Chasing 278 to win, England were reduced to 35 for three in the sixth over but Eoin Morgan (87) and Stokes (102 not out) resurrected England's run-chase with a strokeful 159-run partnership for the fourth wicket in 26.1 overs.
After Morgan's dismissal, Stokes and Jos Butler took England close to victory, reaching 240 for four in 40.2 overs, before another rain interruption brought an early end to the game as England were declared winners by 40 runs via the Duckworth-Lewis method.
With England already through to the semis, pressure was on Australia to perform after washouts against New Zealand and Bangladesh hurt their chances.
Defending the total, Australian pacer Mitchell Starc dealt a blow with his second ball itself, dismissing opener Jason Roy (4) in the first over.
Seamer Josh Hazlewood then dismissed Alex Hales (0), before getting rid of Joe Root (15) early to leave England tottering when the heavens opened up and play was stopped for around 40 minutes.
After resumption, Morgan and Stokes brought up the fifty for England in 7.4 overs. The duo batted with purpose and the team score reached 100 in 14.4 overs.
The two batsmen shared their 100-run partnership in 93 balls, before taking England across the 150-mark in the 24th over. In the 32nd over, however, a terrible mix-up cost Morgan his wicket as England slipped to 194 for four.
Stokes and Butler (29) then guided England to 240 for four in 40.2 overs when rain once again returned to interrupt the play. No further play was possible and England were declared the winners as they were ahead of the Duckworth-Lewis par score.
Earlier, Australia lost opener David Warner (21) in the eighth over when he edged a Wood delivery and was caught by wicket-keeper Jos Butler. Ben Stokes and Eoin Morgan in Birmingham on SaturdayFinch and Smith then dug their heels and ensured Australia didn't suffer any more hiccups and brought up the first 50 runs in 8.5 overs.
The duo rotated the strike well and picked up odd boundaries to guide Australia across the 100-run mark in 18 overs.
Meanwhile, Finch completed his 50 off 47 balls in the 17th over with the help of seven fours. But he became a victim of Stokes in the 23rd over. (PTI)
