England reach Cricket World Cup final after emphatic win over Australia

Tournament hosts comfortably chase down Australia's total to win by eight wickets at Edgbaston

England captain Eoin Morgan and batsman Joe Root celebrate after reaching the Cricket World Cup final. Reuters

England their best performances of the Cricket World Cup to book their place in the final following a comprehensive eight-wicket win over arch-rivals Australia at Edgbaston on Thursday.

Eoin Morgan's men bowled out Australia for 223 before cruising to their target in 32.1 overs in a lop-sided battle between the hosts and the holders.

Jason Roy (85) and Jonny Bairstow (34) made the chase look like a cakewalk with their fourth successive hundred partnership.

Joe Root (49 not out) and Morgan (45 not out) completed the formalities for England with consummate ease.

England, who last made the final in 1992 when they lost to Pakistan, will meet 2015 runners-up New Zealand in Sunday's final at Lord's where new champions will be crowned.

"Having beaten India at this ground, we'd have come here with similar confidence, taken the momentum from the group stages," Morgan said.

"We talk about getting better and better, we set the tone from ball one and got on top.

"Looking back to where we were in 2015, it's a dramatic improvement. Everyone in the dressing-room can take credit. We want to make the most of the opportunity."

Earlier, Aaron Finch's decision to bat appeared to backfire with Chris Woakes and Jofra Archer blowing away the Australian top order.

Adil Rashid claimed 3-54, including the wickets of Carey (46) and Marcus Stoinis, and Archer sent back Glenn Maxwell, who scored at a run-a-ball for his 22 before being deceived by a slower ball.

Smith was run out for 85 in the 48th over and Australia could not last their full quota of 50 overs.

Their slim victory chances hinged on their ability to subject England to a similar top-order collapse but Roy and Bairstow batted with the kind of fearlessness which has been the hallmark of this England team.

Roy smashed his fourth consecutive fifty in the tournament, clobbering Smith for three sixes in a row.

Mitchell Starc, who made 29 with the bat, dismissed Bairstow and Pat Cummins denied Roy his century but the match had slipped through Australia's fingers by then.

"Totally outplayed today, the way they had us 27-3 after 10 overs set the tone," Finch said after Australia's first loss in a World Cup semi-final.

"One of those days, we didn't execute as we could have and you get hurt by a good team. We came here with a couple injuries but that's not an excuse. We came here wanting to win but it wasn't to be."