Australia first team through to the CWC19 semi-final

England fell to a 64-run defeat in their crucial Cricket World Cup clash against Australia at Lord's  a result that puts their progress through to the semi-finals in real jeopardy.

Chasing 286 on a green pitch at the home of cricket, England faltered to 26-3 inside six overs; a superb 89 from Ben Stokes hinted at a recovery, only for a stunning Mitchell Starc yorker to bowl him and end England's resistance  the hosts ultimately falling well short, bowled out for 221.

Earlier, Australia battled to 285-7, with England's bowlers guilty of bowling too short in their opening spells and not making best use of the helpful conditions after Eoin Morgan won the toss, though they did drag things back well with a flurry of late wickets.

Australia captain Aaron Finch struck a magnificent hundred, sharing a century stand with David Warner booed, along with Steve Smith, by the Lord's crowd  as the opening pair repelled the early threat.

But Finch fell the very next ball after bringing up his ton, as Australia lost six wickets for 86 runs and scored just 70 off the last 10 overs.

The total still proved too great for England, however, with Jason Behrendorff (5-44)  a maiden five-for in only his eighth ODI  and Mitchell Starc (4-43) making inroads in bowling that fuller, testing length that England failed to.

James Vince was bowled second ball by a beauty from Behrendorff, swinging back in and beating him through the gate, while Joe Root (8) was undone by an almost identical delivery from Starc which trapped him lbw.

Morgan and Jonny Bairstow, meanwhile, were the makers of their own downfall, both taking on short balls as England tried to stay true to the positive brand of cricket that has taken them to No 1 in the world since the last World Cup.

Stokes led the recovery, reaching fifty despite badly suffering with cramp and sharing half-century stands with both Jos Buttler (25) and Chris Woakes (26).

But, with the score at 177 in the 37th over, Starc produced a bit of magic to beat Stokes defences and knock back his off peg.