Travis Head scored a 64-ball 71 to help Australia post a target of 278, despite rampant death bowling from Adil Rashid and Mark Wood.
Runs were hard to come by as Australia’s top order got themselves off to a good start, but could not push on. David Warner’s disappointing tournament continued and he was the first wicket to fall with Australia on 40 after 7o.2 overs.
Steven Smith and Aaron Finch did help the Aussies’ recovery, but the partnership was broken four runs before they reached the 100-mark, Finch losing his wicket on 68 off 64 balls.
Smith fought hard to reach his half-century and take his side past 150, but it wasn’t long before another wicket fell, Moises Henriques losing his wicket on 17 for Rashid’s first scalp.
Smith (56) managed to hang around a little longer, with Australia on 181 at the start of the 33rd over, but he too lost his wicket to pile pressure on the visitors.
Head and Glenn Maxwell temporarily steadied the ship with a 58-run partnership, but Maxwell lost his wicket on 22, thanks to a superb boundary-toss catch from Jason Roy, as Australia were reduced to 239-5.
Head continued to bat bravely to get his side to 245 by the 44th over, but exquisite bowling by Rashid pinned back the visitors as he took three wickets to see Australia crumble to 253-8.
Mark Wood made it 254-9 with his fourth of the day, but Head kept his composure to squeeze out some runs, ending his innings on 71 off 64 balls.
England did well to restrict the Aussies to 277-9, as they chase 278 for victory, with Wood and Rashid ending with figures of 4-33 and 4-41 respectively.
Photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images
