Josh Buttler (73 off 47) and Alex Hales (52 off 40) hit half-centuries – Buttler after two failures – as England posted 179-6 from their 20 overs before restricting New Zealand to 159-6. Glenn Phillips’ 62 off 36 deliveries was in vain for New Zealand, with Moeen Ali breathing a huge sigh of relief after leaving the knock in the form of 15 at cover as he bowled an absolute dollop off the bowling of Adil Rashid. England were knocked out of last year’s World T20 by New Zealand in the semi-final after their death bowling failed, but there was no repeat in Brisbane, with Sam Curran conceding just five of the 26 runs New Zealand required from the final . . Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player England skipper Josh Buttler top-scored with 73 off 47 balls in Brisbane, hitting seven fours and two sixes England, New Zealand and Australia are all on five points ahead of the final round of Group 1 matches, with New Zealand top on net percentage, ahead of second-placed England and third-placed Australia. New Zealand face Ireland and Australia meet Afghanistan in Adelaide on Friday before England take on Sri Lanka in Sydney on Saturday If New Zealand, Australia and England all win as expected, then the top two spots will be decided on a net basis, with Australia having most to do with their run rate at -0.304 compared to + New Zealand’s 2.233 and England’s +0.547. Any slip-up could yet see Sri Lanka involved in a replay of the semi-finals. Ireland have the best chance of qualifying but would require an excellent set of results.
Buttler, Hales give England strong start in Brisbane
Buttler and Hales shared a first-wicket 81 off 62 balls after the former opted to bat on a used Gamba surface. Buttler was dropped for eight by New Zealand captain Kane Williamson at cover and then again for 40 by Daryl Mitchell at deep square leg as he scored his maiden score in his 100th T20 international and surpassed former top scorer Eoin Morgan as the England’s top scorer in T20 Internationals. cricket. Buttler was eventually run out in the penultimate over but played a major role in his side’s plunder of 102 runs from their final 10 overs, with Livingstone (20 off 14) the only other Buttler and Hales player to reach double figures against team that hit. apart from last year’s T20 World Cup. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player Buttler was dismissed at eight with New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson dropping him at eight at cover The captain had spoken at the toss about how England would be “flexible” with their batting order and he delivered on that promise with Moeen (6) and Livingstone moving up to No 3 and No 4 respectively, with Ben Stokes (8) and Dawid. Malan (3no) comes in at No 6 and No 8. England had looked on course for an even bigger total at one point, with Buttler and Livingston at the crease at the end of the 17th over and the score at 148-2. a flurry of late wickets stunted some of their momentum, although they did manage to score 16 off Lockie Ferguson’s final over. Each of New Zealand’s three pacers – Ferguson (2-45), Trent Boult (0-40) and Tim Southee (1-43) – took at least 10 overs, with the job of restriction being done by spinner Mitchell Santner ( 1 -25) and Ish Sodhi (1-23); Santner with the first wicket of the night when he bowled Hales in the 11th over. Moeen and Harry Brook (7) were caught in the deep by Sodhi and Southee respectively. Livingstone squirmed trying to repeat a rampaging four over fine leg from Ferguson. and Stokes was pounded by a Ferguson yorker off the penultimate ball of the innings. Stokes’ dismissal left Malan with a ball in front and he took three from it after working Ferguson to leg. the left-hander was not out next to Curran (6no) with Curran having hit Ferguson for a six over leg earlier in the final over.
Buttler with a stunning catch at the start of New Zealand’s chase
Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player Moeen Ali made a huge blunder in the field, dropping Glenn Phillips on 15, but the error did not cost England in the end New Zealand were reduced to 28-2 during a shy powerplay with Buttler’s acrobatic delivery of Devon Conway (3) off the bowling of Chris Woakes and Finn Allen (16) spooning Curran to Stokes at deep midwicket – Stokes apparently injured his finger after taking the catch and left the field before returning moments later. New Zealand should have been 64-3 in the 10th over but Moeen inexplicably dropped Phillips, who went on to lead the stand on 96 off 59 balls with skipper Williamson (40 off 40). The momentum was with New Zealand when Phillips clipped Rashid for back-to-back sixes in the 14th over, the batsman completing a 25-ball fifty-four days after a scintillating century against Sri Lanka. Image: Phillips followed up his century against Sri Lanka with a fifty against England The Black Caps needed 67 from 36 deliveries but Stokes then put Williamson at short third before Mark Wood and Chris Woakes capped the scoring rate and caught Jimmy Neesham (6) and Darryl Mitchell (3) in the deep respectively. When Phillips was then holed by Curran down the ground with 44 needed from 15 balls – off-spinner Chris Jordan with his second catch of the night – it was game over.
Buttler: We have dangerous players
Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player Captain Jos Buttler reflects on England’s semi-final win over New Zealand England captain Josh Buttler: “I said at the toss you don’t become a bad team overnight. We’ve got some very dangerous players, and we came out tonight and left it all out there. We bowl deep and it lets you take it. We know this [qualification] it’s in our hands.”
Williamson: England were clinical
Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player New Zealand captain Kane Williamson says his side struggled to make ends meet against a ‘clinical’ England side New Zealand captain Kane Williamson: “We struggled to make those breakthroughs to change the momentum. They played beautifully, led by Josh and Alex Hales. It’s not out of the question the way England played, they were very clinical. We had the moments us [in the run chase] but we couldn’t catch the game. Credit to their bowlers.”
What’s next?
England face Sri Lanka in Sydney on Saturday (8am UK time) with New Zealand playing Ireland in Adelaide a day earlier (4am UK time on Friday). Both games are live on Sky Sports Cricket.
