Alex Carey was named Man of the Match for his 72-ball 71

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Usman Khawaja and Alex Carey scored 88 and a career-best 71 respectively as Australia demolished New Zealand by 86 runs in their World Cup clash at Lord’s.

Opting to bat first, Australia captain Aaron Finch was dismissed early on as he was trapped lbw off the bowling of Trent Boult for eight runs.

David Warner only scored 16 runs before he was caught behind off the bowling of Lockie Ferguson, who also took out Steve Smith thanks to a superb catch by Martin Guptill at leg gully.

Marcus Stoinis made 21 before being caught behind off the bowling of James Neesham, who also sent Glenn Maxwell packing for one run.

With Australia reeling at 92/5, Carey and Khawaja halted New Zealand’s charge with a 107-run partnership, during which both batsmen surpassed their half-centuries, before Carey was dismissed by New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson for a 72-ball 71, which included 11 boundaries.

Khawaja went on to score went on to score 88, which came off 129 balls and included five boundaries, before he was clean bowled by Boult.

Boult then cleaned up Mitchell Starc the next ball and trapped Jason Behrendorff the following delivery to become the first New Zealand player to take a World Cup hat-trick.

As a result of Boult’s hat-trick, Australia finished on 243/9.

Boult was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets, while Ferguson and Neesham snapped up two wickets apiece. As for Williamson, he chipped in with one.

Chasing 244 to win, New Zealand lost opener opener Henry Nicholls in the 10th over as he was caught behind off the bowling of Behrendorff for eight runs.

Guptill managed to make 20 runs before he was given out lbw off the bowling of Behrendorff.

Williamson and Ross Taylor added 55 runs to the score before Williamson was caught behind off the bowling of Starc for 40.

Taylor ended up making 30 before he was caught behind off the bowling of Pat Cummins.

Once Taylor was gone, New Zealand completely collapsed, courtesy of some brilliant bowling from Starc, as they went from 118/4 to being bowled out for 157.

Mitchell Starc finished with figures of 5-26 off 9.4 overs

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Starc was the most successful bowler with five wickets, while Behrendorff took two and Cummins, Smith and Nathan Lyon claimed one wicket each.

Carey was named Man of the Match.