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Steve Smith hit 85 but no other batsman passed 50 as Australia struggled to recover from a bad start to post 223 in their World Cup semi-final against England.

Steve Smith played a lone hand as Australia struggled their way to 223 in their World Cup semi-final against England.

After he was brought to the crease in the second over, Smith's 85 helped rescue Australia from 3-14 early at Edgbaston before they were all out in the 49th over.

Alex Carey also hit 46 as he and Smith combined for 103 for the fourth wicket, after Chris Woakes (3-20) and Jofra Archer (2-32) did the early damage.

With the top order falling around him, Smith was watchful as he took 35 balls to reach double figures with his first boundary.

Elevated to No.3 through the absence of Usman Khawaja, the right-hander faced 119 balls in total as he posted his highest score of the tournament.

He was largely risk-free, hitting just six boundaries but at least giving Australia something to bowl at.

Carey too was gutsy, carrying on with strapping around his head after being hit by a Jofra Archer bouncer on the fifth ball he faced.

With stitches in his chin he still drove the ball as gloriously as he has all tournament, particularly through the covers.

But when he attempted to take Adil Rashid (3-54) over the legside boundary and holed out to sub fielder James Vince, Australia took another hit.

Rashid had Marcus Stoinis lbw two balls later for a duck when he deceived him with a wrong'un.

With every wicket that fell at the other end through the middle order, Smith looked more frustrated.

He shook his head furiously when Glenn Maxwell bunted one from Jofra Archer to cover on 22, with Australia again in trouble at 6-157.

The former captain's innings was eventually ended when Jos Buttler ran him out with a direct hit at the bowler's end in the 47th over, before Mitchell Starc also went for a well made 29.

Australia's day started well when they won the toss and Warner drove the first ball for four.

But that was all they had to smile about in the first hour.

Aaron Finch went from the first ball he faced when Archer trapped him in front with one that nipped back, before Warner nicked off to Woakes on nine in the next over.

And when Peter Handscomb was bowled by one that went between bat and pad by Woakes on four, Australia were always going to be fighting an uphill battle.

They do, however, have some history on their side in their bid to face New Zealand in the final.

Teams batting first have won 28 of 42 completed games in the World Cup, including nine of the past 10.

All three of England's losses have come chasing, having failed to run down any score above 220 in this year's home tournament.