England completed an unbeaten Super Eight campaign in the T20 World Cup with a thrilling four-wicket win over New Zealand at the R. Premadasa Stadium,
sealing top spot in Group 2 and marching into the semi-finals with immense confidence.
New Zealand’s 159/7 looked competitive on a surface that helped spin. Tim Seifert and Finn Allen gave them a good start, adding 64 in the Powerplay, while Glenn Phillips’ 39 ensured a solid finish. England’s spinners, led by Will Jacks and Rehan Ahmed with two wickets each, pulled things back smartly through the middle overs.
The chase began disastrously. Matt Henry removed Phil Salt early, and Jos Buttler fell for a duck. Harry Brook counter-attacked with flair, including a falling flick for six, but regular wickets saw the Three Lions needing 43 from the last three overs.
However, Jacks (32* off 18) and Rehan (19* off 7) smashed 44 off just 16 balls to script a sensational finish with three balls to spare. While England head to Mumbai unbeaten, New Zealand’s defeat has handed Pakistan an outside chance as they must beat Sri Lanka by 64 runs or chase the target in 13.1 overs to qualify.
Top Batting performance of the match - Tom Banton
England's Tom Banton made sure to hold on to one end after the team lost a few quick wickets at the top. The right-handed batter in his 24-ball stay smashed three boundaries and a six, playing at a strike rate of 137.50. He stitched a crucial stand with Sam Curran to pull things back for England.
Top Bowling performance of the match - Will Jacks
Right-arm spinner Will Jacks was the wrecker-in-chief with the ball as he finished with figures of 2/23 in four overs. His two victims included Finn Allen and Glenn Philips. His part-time off-spin was instrumental in England's win as they put early pressure on the BlackCaps early in the game.
Records Broken and Major Milestones Achieved
- Jos Buttler set an unwanted record by registering his 10th T20I duck, the most by an England batter, surpassing Luke Wright’s tally of nine.
- Will Jacks and Rehan Ahmed stitched a 44-run stand, now England’s highest seventh-wicket partnership in a Men’s T20 World Cup, breaking the previous 35-run record shared by Jamie Overton and Jacks.
- England’s spinners claimed seven wickets, their joint-most in a single T20 World Cup match.
- The 16 overs of spin bowled by England marked the most they have delivered in a T20I innings.
- It was also the highest number of spin overs England have bowled in a T20 World Cup fixture.
- England’s spinners generated nearly the same average turn at the venue as New Zealand’s slower bowlers managed against Sri Lanka in the previous game.
- For the first time in seven matches, England failed to take a wicket inside the Powerplay, while conceding four sixes, their most in that phase in this World Cup.
- This was only the second occasion in the tournament that both New Zealand openers survived the Powerplay, the other being their 10-wicket win over the UAE.
- Jofra Archer conceded 16 runs in a single Powerplay over, the most he has given away in that phase in this World Cup.
- Archer also conceded his first six in the Powerplay in the tournament during this clash.
Who was the Player of the Match?
England all-rounder Will Jacks received the Player of the Match honours for his sublime performance with both bat and ball. Earlier with the ball, he bagged a two-wicket haul and conceded just 23 runs. Later, he played a sublime match-winning 32* off 18, to take his team over the line.
What is the next match?
England’s next match will be against either India or West Indies, with the winner of that clash set to take on the Three Lions. Meanwhile, New Zealand will keep a close eye on the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka fixture, as Pakistan still has an outside chance of progressing to the semi-finals.
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