Adam Zampa turned in a stellar all-round performance as Australia ousted the reigning champions, England, from the ICC World Cup with a decisive 33-run victory on Saturday.
In the pursuit of 287 runs for a win at Ahmedabad, England collapsed to 253 all out in 48.1 overs, with Ben Stokes’ brave inning of 64 not enough to reverse their fortunes. England’s loss, their sixth in seven games, anchored them at the bottom of the table, while Australia moved closer to clinching a semi-final spot.
Zampa’s leg-spin bowling was critical, taking 3-21 and effectively dismantling the English batting lineup, even as England showed promise with partnerships like Stokes and Moeen Ali’s 63-run effort.
After contributing 29 valuable runs with the bat, Zampa’s spell included the dismissal of Stokes, which sent the English all-rounder back to the pavilion in disappointment. The wickets continued to fall, highlighting England’s persistent struggles in a tournament that has seen them defeated by underdogs Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.
Zampa, the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 19 scalps, also dazzled with an outstanding catch to remove David Willey.
England Faces a Low Point
Jos Buttler, England’s captain, expressed the team’s disappointment and the personal toll of the defeat, acknowledging it as a significant low in his tenure. England must aim to secure a spot in the 2025 Champions Trophy through their remaining World Cup matches.
On the Australian side, batsmen like Marnus Labuschagne, with a top score of 71, and contributions from Steve Smith and Cameron Green, set up a solid victory, despite Chris Woakes’ impressive 4-54 bowling figures for England. Australia’s 286 all-out was built on partnerships, including a critical one between Smith and Labuschagne and later contributions from Zampa and Marcus Stoinis.
