Stokes is delighted upon bringing up his third ODI hundred
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Ben Stokes’ terrific all-round performance, coupled with the relentless rain, saw England take down Australia by 40 runs via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method and end their Champions Trophy campaign.
Stokes, who scored a career-best 102 not out and took a wicket, was well supported by captain Eoin Morgan, who made 87, and Mark Wood and Adil Rashid, who took four wickets apiece.
With Australia having lost the match, Bangladesh progressed through to the semi-finals.
Being put in to bat first, Australia made a rapid start to their innings before opener David Warner was caught behind off the bowling of Wood for 21.
Aaron Finch and captain Steve Smith kept the scoreboard ticking with a 96-run partnership, during which Finch surpassed his fifty, before he was dismissed by Stokes for 68 off 64 balls, which included eight boundaries.
Finch struck his 16th half-century in ODI cricket
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Moises Henriques could only muster 17 runs, while Smith went on to make 56 off 77 deliveries, which included five boundaries, before he was removed by Wood.
Smith scored his 17th ODI fifty
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Travis Head and Glenn Maxwell stemmed the bleeding with a 58-run partnership before Maxwell, who made 20, became Wood’s third victim.
Rashid took over from that point as he took out wicketkeeper Matthew Wade, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins in quick succession.
Even though Adam Zampa fell to Wood not long after, Head’s unbeaten knock of 71, which came off 64 balls and included five boundaries and two sixes, helped Australia reach 277/9 off their 50 overs.
Head made his sixth ODI fifty
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Wood and Rashid picked up four wickets apiece, while Stokes chipped in with one.
Chasing 278 to win, England opener Jason Roy’s woes with the bat continued when he was given out lbw off the bowling of Starc for four runs on the second ball of the innings.
Josh Hazlewood then got into the act as he sent Alex Hales and Joe Root packing for a duck and 15 respectively.
At the end of the sixth over, which was just two balls after Root fell, the rain came and play was suspended for a short while.
Once the players came back on the field, England began to turn the tide in their favour thanks to Morgan and Stokes’ 159-run partnership, during which both batsmen cruised past their half-centuries.
With England making strong headway, Australia were in need of a wicket, and it was provided by Zampa, who ran out Morgan for 87, which came off 81 deliveries and included eight boundaries and five sixes.
Morgan’s 34th ODI fifty proved crucial in leading England to victory
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Stokes and wicketkeeper Jos Buttler kept the runs flowing with an unbeaten 46-run stand, during which Stokes brought up his century, before the heavens parted again.
With the rain refusing to relent, the match was called off and England were declared the winners.
Stokes finished on 102 off 109 balls, which included 13 boundaries and two sixes, while Buttler remained undefeated on 29 off 32 deliveries, which included three boundaries and a six.
Hazlewood was the most successful bowler with two wickets, while Starc claimed one.