Chennai
A well-set Ben Stokes was trying his best to get his team out of hot water and keep in the hunt against the mighty Aussies when pacer Mitchell Starc reached the top of his bowling mark. What followed as Starc hit his delivery stride and released the ball left Stokes stunned.
A ferocious in-swinging yorker from Starc at 145 kmph beat Stokes all ends up and sent the off-stump cart-wheeling. Not only did it bring an end to a brilliant 89-run knock from the stylish tattooed player, but also ended the hopes of the Three Lions to stay in the hunt in the game against the arch-rival.
Stokes could not have done anything apart from getting out to probably the best ball of the 2019 World Cup. Stokes stood there in disbelief, he was not even able to comprehend what just happened. He dropped his bat on the ground in disappointment, kicked it to express his anger and then made the long walk back to the pavilion amidst cheers from the fans for what was a brilliant effort from the tear-away Australian pacer. That delivery also sealed a berth for Australia in the World Cup semi-finals as with Stokes ended England’s hopes. For the Aussies, it was about proving the detractors wrong. After all, the last year has been the toughest for the Aussie cricketers thanks to the Sandpaper Gate fiasco and the effort to rebuild the team culture under new coach Justin Langer.
Starc returned with figures of 4/43 in his 8.4 overs and along with Jason Behrendorff, helped Australia become the first team to qualify for the semis, that too at the Home of Cricket. In the ongoing World Cup, the left-arm tearaway pacer has been the go-to man for Aaron Finch whenever he is in search of wickets and Starc has delivered on almost all the occasions and has won matches for the defending champion. He is to Finch what Jasprit Bumrah is to Virat Kohli. Whenever there’s a need for a wicket, Starc chips in with one.
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