Australia, on course for the semi-finals of the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup, recorded a comfortable 86-run victory over New Zealand at Lord’s, surviving the loss of early wickets and a Trent Boult hat-trick.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Australia will have been disappointed to slip to 92 for 5, as Boult and Lockie Ferguson made their mark on the top order.
The Aussies rebuilt with a 107-run partnership between Usman Khawaja (88) and Alex Carey (71) which lifted them to 199 by the time the latter fell to the spin of skipper Kane Williamson.
Khawaja eeked out another 44 runs with Pat Cummins (23 not out) before he fell to Boult along with Mitchell Starc and Jason Behrendorff in the space of three balls. It was the first ever One-Day International hat-trick at the Home of Cricket, and Boult’s second in ODIs.
The Kiwis never really looked comfortable in pursuit of 244 to win and lost wickets at regular intervals in response. Starc was the chief tormentor with the ball, taking 5 for 26 as New Zealand were bowled out for 157 in the 44th over. Williamson top-scored for the Black Caps, making 40.
Australia march on to the semi-finals whilst New Zealand, with one more match to play against hosts England, still need another victory to seal their place in the last four.
Up next on Lord's, Pakistan meet Bangladesh on Friday 5th July with both sides still in contention for the knock-out rounds.