World Cup England vs Australia: Steve Smith's 'nutmeg' run out needed Jos Buttler to thread the eye of a needle like you'd never believe

Cricket will witness a new world champion for the first time since Sri Lanka's triumph in 1996 as hosts England have defeated defending champions Australia in the second semifinal at Edgbaston, and will play against New Zealand at Lord's in London on Sunday.

England's defeat of Australia - very much the old enemy - was as resounding as the Kiwis' own win versus India didn't turn out to be. At the end, England reached Australia's 223-run total with 8 wickets and 107 balls to spare. There were two big points of note in Australia's innings - Alex Carey taking a bouncer from Jofra Archer straight to the jaw and having to catch his dislodged helmet before getting run-out, and the other, the incredible run-out of former captain Steve Smith.

Smith, the captain who lifted the World Cup in 2015, was the only Aussie batsman to put up any resistance, scoring a valiant 85 from 119 balls. However, he didn't get much support at the other end as the wickets continued to fall. Eventually, Smith was dismissed a well, but not without a sensational piece of play.

World Cup | WATCH: Australia's Alex Carey catches his helmet to prevent being hit-wicket after sweet-chin-music from England's Jofra Archer

It was Jos Buttler who got the run out. Smith was running towards the batting end, full tilt, and knowingly or unknowingly running in a line that would put him between the stumps and the incoming throw. However, Buttler threaded the eye of the needle, and then some. The throw, seemingly destined to be blocked by Smith's posterior, ended up going through his legs by a hair's breadth - the proverbial 'nutmeg' in Footballing terms - bounced once, and cannoned into the middle stump.

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