BENGALURU, India — England captain Jos Buttler won the toss and opted to field against Australia in Ahmedabad at the Cricket World Cup on Saturday.
The defending champions have endured a nightmarish tournament with only one win in six games, and are languishing at the bottom of the points’ table with two points. After five losses, England is virtually knocked out of the tournament with only a mathematical possibility of making the top-four even if it beats Australia.
Australia, meanwhile, is third in the table – equal on eight points with New Zealand – but ahead on net run-rate. The five-time champions need two wins in their remaining three games to outright qualify for the semi-finals.
England has fielded an unchanged side from its previous loss against India in Lucknow.
Australia has made two changes, after Glenn Maxwell was ruled out owing to concussion at a golfing incident this past week. All-rounder Mitchell Marsh has also flown home for personal reasons, with a return date still unknown.
Fit-again Marcus Stoinis comes into the side, as does Cameron Green.
PHOTOS: England wins toss and bowls against Australia. Ravindra's 3rd ton leads NZ against Pakistan
The pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium should aid batsmen, with spin coming into play as the game progresses. Wrist spinner Adam Zampa has taken 16 wickets in six games for Australia thus far.
Earlier in Bengaluru, Rachin Ravindra became the first New Zealander to score three centuries at a World Cup as the Black Caps piled on the runs against Pakistan and had reached 360-5 in 46 overs.
After Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and elected to bowl in a crunch game for both teams, New Zealand’s batters hit the ground running as Ravindra blazed his way to 108 off 94 balls.
Ravindra combined with Kane Williamson, who returned from a thumb injury to captain the side, in a 180-run partnership off 142 balls. Williamson scored 95 from 79 balls.
In a match crucial for both teams hopes of a semifinal berth, New Zealand has eight points from seven games, while Pakistan are two points further back and are sixth on the ladder.
New Zealand’s opening nine-wicket win against defending champion England was followed by three relatively easy victories over the Netherlands, Bangladesh and Afghanistan before it crashed to three successive losses.
It fell short by just five runs against Australia in a high-scoring game, but received a 190-run pounding against South Africa that has dented its net run-rate too.
Pakistan not only needs to win its remaining two games, but its progress to the semifinals depends on the results of other games. The 1992 champions finally gelled against Bangladesh in the last game after it suffered four consecutive losses against India, Australia, Afghanistan and a nail-biting one-wicket defeat against South Africa.
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