2017 ICC Champions Trophy: England v Australia – Five Turning Points

Nov 2, 2023 at 3:43 PM

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2017 ICC Champions Trophy: England v Australia – Five Turning Points

England registered a memorable win by 40 runs (DLS) at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Birmingham to oust Australia from the Champions Trophy. The win came rather easily than what was expected, as the challengers, Australia, faced a must-win situation after two washed out games.

Batting first, the Aussies posted 277/9. They reached the functional total huffing and puffing through the last 10 overs. Opener Aaron Finch (68 from 64 balls) and skipper Steve Smith (56 from 77 balls) gave a smooth start to the innings before the English bowlers pulled the strings forcing a middle order failure. Fortunately, there was Travis Head (71 from 64) who battled it out till the end of the innings after coming in to bat in the 28th over.

England’s chase unfolded smoothly after early jolts from Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc. Jason Roy, the struggling opener, was removed for just four by Starc. Shortly, Hazlewood removed two in from men Alex Hales and Joe Root to put England in a bothersome situation. But, these were only moments Australia could cheer.

Eoin Morgan and Ben Stokes joined in the middle and combined 159 runs for the 4th the wicket to make the chase look easy. The winning runs could not be hit, unfortunately, as the rains arrived and forced the game to be abandoned. England was way ahead of the DLS par score of 200/4 and thus ended up pocketing the win.

Mark Wood.

1. Mark Wood’s beauty:

Mark Wood, the right arm fast bowler, produced the ball of the day in the 8th over. Accuracy was on display when Wood pitched the ball from the good length and it kicked away from a surprised David Warner. The superb delivery did not go idly, as it managed to brush the edge while on its way to the wicket-keeper. The Australian danger man was successfully gotten better and made to depart.

Adil Rashid.

2. Adil Rashid’s clean-up act:

Knocks from Steve Smith and Finch stabilised the Australian innings. Later, Travis Head and Glenn Maxwell kept the runs coming till the 40th over. But, when the time to accelerate arrived, the Australian were sent packing by English bowlers. Mark Wood and leg-spinner Adil Rashid snapped five wickets between them. This was the most vital part of the game. But, while Wood played his part greatly, it was Rashid who ended up being the most impactful, snapping 3/15 in his short three overs spell during that period.

Alex Hales.

3. Hales Shocker:

Hales was the man who provided respite to England at the top. Jason Roy’s continuous failures were made to look less bothersome due to Hales’ solid form. However, the right-hander had an off day last evening and was dismissed for a four-ball duck. Hazlewood perfect away going delivery caught the edge of Hales’ bat and went straight to the first slip. This failure was highly unexpected and saw England reeling at 6/2 in 1.2 overs.

Matthew Wade.

4. Wade Drops Morgan:

Australia had England struggling 6/2. Both the openers were back in the pavilion and an over later Hazlewood created golden opportunity to reduce them to three down but only if wicket-keeper Matthew Wade could have managed to get hold of a glove delivery from Eoin Morgan. The short ball trick worked for Hazlewood, as Morgan failed to play the attempted pull shot and instead gloved it behind. But, Wade’s one handed try to get catch the ball was unsuccessful despite diving full stretch and Morgan survived.

Rain.

5. Rain – 3; Australia – 0:

Three matches, two washouts and a loss. This is Australia’s Champions Trophy report card. The first two matches were washouts forced by rains. The opening game against New Zealand was an escape, the second fixture against Bangladesh was a possible win but rain interrupted again. Rain made their presence felt in their final game, as well, not once but twice.

On the first instance in the second innings, there was only a delay; on the second instance, it ensured a quick wrap up, as England stood at the brink of a victory. Australia’s contest in the Champions Trophy was not against the opposition teams, it was against the rain Gods. And eventually, as the score line suggests, rains had their way thrice while Australia waited in the pavilion helplessly.

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