Cricket World Cup LIVE: Stokes outsmarted by Zampa, Australia on top

Having struggled with his timing and at times with his knee, Stokes decides it is time to have a crack at the target.

Ben Stokes goes for it.Credit: Getty

He clatters Starc and Head for sixes, prompting Moeen Ali to punch Hazlewood down the ground for his own boundary. With the dew on the ground getting more substantial, conditions will get better for batting.

Moeen carries on when Cummins has to bowl Stoinis, because Zampa has been off the field too long to bowl the next over, glancing and pulling boundaries. The Australians are looking a little more tense than they would like to be.

ENGLAND 4-162 chasing 287

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Where Adil Rashid has enjoyed bowling to Steve Smith, Adam Zampa has had much the same dominance over Buttler.

After keeping Buttler quiet in his first over facing him, Zampa tempted England’s captain with something a little floatier, tempting a lofted drive that is ever so slightly miscued to long off.

That’s the fifth time Zampa has dismissed Buttler, and Australia’s celebrations are jubilant – two wickets for three runs.

ENGLAND 4-106 chasing 287

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It’s a sight that Australians have come to view warily. Stokes unwinding with a big shot and then reeling away in pain from his knee – he has admitted it will need surgery as soon as England’s World Cup campaign is done.

This time it was Travis Head on the receiving end, but what followed was much better for Australia. Stokes tried it again next ball and very nearly dragged onto the stumps.

Travis Head catches Dawid Malan.Credit: Getty

Next over Cummins brought himself back on, and coaxed a skier out of Malan to end his innings at 50 and the partnership at a burgeoning 84 – already the biggest of the match.

ENGLAND 3-103 chasing 287

After Starc is withdrawn from the attack, conditions start to ease for England’s key pair of Malan and Ben Stokes.

Malan hits a majestic six over square leg off Hazlewood, and also finds the boundary against Cummins. Zampa is introduced for the 12th over, and he concedes only a single as Stokes struggles to find his timing.

Dawid Malan and Ben Stokes.Credit: AP

Meanwhile in Bengaluru, Pakistan have been declared winners against New Zealand on run rate calculations after the game was ended early by rain.

Remarkably, by squeezing ahead of New Zealand after the Black Caps hammered 401 batting first, Pakistan have kept themselves in contention for the semi-finals. That also means England still have the slimmest of chances, too.

ENGLAND 2-69 chasing 287

For years, it seems, Marnus Labuschagne has been the boy who cried wolf when it came to decision reviews.

This time, however, he gets one right. Starc angles across Root, there is a noise Labuschagne but few others hear, and after his extensive agitation, Pat Cummins decides to use Australia’s last review. “Huge noise,” is Labuschagne’s verdict.

Replays confirm the telltale spike on Snicko or Ultra Edge, and Root has to go. The Australians embrace Labuschagne with plenty of enthusiasm.

ENGLAND 2-20 chasing 287

Starc is hooping the new ball and Joe Root gets another reprieve when he mistimes a cover drive, only to see Marcus Stoinis drop the chance. Certainly should have been taken.

Starc then bowls a beauty that swerves away to turn Dawid Malan inside out. Malan is understandably eager to get off strike and nearly runs himself out taking a tight single.

ENGLAND 1-14 chasing 287

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Mitchell Starc has been fading the new ball down the leg side often this World Cup.

Against England this turns out to be exactly the right ball to get Jonny Bairstow, who tickles a glance into the gloves of a diving Josh Inglis.

Mitchell Starc gets Jonny Bairstow.Credit: Getty

Australia’s players react with a combination of celebration and laughter. They are more fevered three balls later when Joe Root is pinned in front – but ball-tracking shows the delivery would have gone over the top of the leg stump.

The Australians are wearing black armbands out of respect for the passing of Mitch Marsh’s grandfather Ross, who died on Friday. Marsh is currently at home with his family to mourn.

ENGLAND 1-8 chasing 287

Adam Zampa once said that if he had to come in to bat for Australia it meant the innings had not gone too well, but in Ahmedabad his late innings runs were vital in the fight to secure a victory that would shore up the team’s World Cup place.

Adam Zampa.Credit: AP

Arriving at the crease at 8-247, Zampa added a priceless 38 runs with Mitchell Starc, helped by a hearty slice of good fortune.

The concern for Australia will be about how much better they might have faired with some more substantial innings and partnerships. No-one bettered Marnus Labuschagne’s 71, and no partnership was worth more than 75.

As far removed as this World Cup and format are from Tests, the sense of missed opportunity with the bat was similar to that felt by Australia in the latter half of the Ashes series in England.

AUSTRALIA 286 ALL OUT