Tom Reeves reports on a win for Steve Smith’s team…
Australia moved into the tri-series final with a game to spare, as captain Steve Smith continued his incredible form and led his side to a thrilling three-wicket win over England.
Smith, who hit four centuries in Australia’s recent Test series against India, anchored the chase of 304 to guide his team home with an unbeaten 102.
Ian Bell had earlier struck 141 to become England’s highest one-day run-scorer and led the tourists to 303-8.
The home side will now wait to see, who they will face in the final with England set to play India on Friday 30th January.
A victory would see Eoin Morgan’s men progress, while defeat may not necessarily rule them out of contention, depending on the outcome of Australia’s match against India on Monday 26th January.
However, England will undoubtedly see this as a missed opportunity to prove themselves ahead of the World Cup.
They faced a weakened Australian outfit with the likes of regular skipper George Bailey, quick bowler Mitchell Johnson, David Warner and all-rounder Shane Watson among those missing.
England got off to a great start through Bell and fellow opener Moeen Ali in Hobart.
Bell made his fourth one-day international century, before being caught by Mitchell Starc from the bowling of rookie fast bowler Gurinder Sandhu.
The 32-year-old started the innings just five runs short of becoming only the second Englishman to pass 5,000 one-day international runs alongside Paul Collingwood.
His majestic 141 in 125 balls saw him pass that mark in just the third over.
His opening partnership of 113 with Ali – who scored 46 – set up the English innings.
Joe Root also added 69 from 70 balls for the tourists to leave them 253-3 in the 42nd over by the time Bell was dismissed.
Then middle-order finishers Morgan, Jos Buttler and Ravi Bopara all failed to seriously trouble the scoreboard as the innings finished in bizarre fashion.
Australia completed a team hat-trick in last three balls when Chris Woakes and Buttler were run out, while Essex’s Bopara was bowled by Starc.
Australia started their pursuit in confident fashion through Shaun Marsh and Aaron Finch, who smashed 67 off the first 10 overs.
However, England paceman Steven Finn hit back with two wickets in three balls.
The 25-year-old had Marsh caught for 45, before trapping Cameron White LBW for a duck to leave Australia 92-3.
Meanwhile, Moeen removed Finch and Glenn Maxwell for 37, either side of Finn’s quick-fire double.
Yet Smith, captaining Australia for the first time in a one-day international in place of Bailey, steadied the ship to reach his half-century off 51 balls.
The 25-year-old continued on his way to a ton, supported by James Faulkner and Brad Haddin, who crashed 42 in 29 balls to get his side close to the line.
Smith’s men stuttered just short of the target, despite having the skipper set on a hundred.
James Taylor ran-out Moises Henriques in the final over to increase the tension, only for Starc to strike the winning runs with the penultimate ball.
The two teams will meet again on Saturday 14th February in their opening ‘Pool A’ World Cup match.