England beat New Zealand & semifinal hopes alive with a 20-run win against New Zealand at the Gabba in Brisbane on Tuesday, thanks to Jos Buttler’s blazing 73 and a great bowling effort from the bowlers. With the victory, England moves up to second place in Group 1’s points standings. This is also New Zealand’s first defeat in the competition. Glenn Phillips led the way for New Zealand, scoring 62 off 36 balls, while skipper Kane Williamson struck 40 off 40 balls.
Chris Woakes and Sam Curran each took two wickets for England. New Zealand, chasing a goal of 180, got off to a poor start, losing opener Devon Conway for three on Chris Woakes’ throw. Kane Williamson stepped out to bat next.
England beat New Zealand
New Zealand openers Finn Allen and Kane Williamson then smacked Woakes for 12 runs with a four and a six. Sam Curran struck in his first over, dismissing set hitter Finn Allen for 16 off 11 balls, putting New Zealand at 28/2. Glenn Phillips, a right-handed batter, next came out to bat. Phillips and Williamson pushed their team’s total above 50 runs in the eighth inning. After 10 overs, New Zealand’s total was 66 for the cost of two wickets.
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Phillips and Williamson used their critical 50-run partnership in 38 deliveries to relieve some burden on their squad. Phillips, the danger man, began to play aggressively, slamming England bowlers all over the place. Phillips reached his half-century in the 14th over of the innings by hitting Adil Rashid for 17 runs in an over. Rashid then gave his squad a huge boost by dismissing Williamson for 40 off 40. After that, James Neesham batted. After 15 overs, New Zealand required 57 runs in 30 balls. Curran dismissed Neesham for 6 off 3 balls, putting the Kiwis on 126/4.
Daryl Mitchell then walked out to bat on the crease, but he didn’t go far as he was sent back to the pavilion after scoring 3 off 5 on Woakes’ delivery. Mitchell Santner then took the batter’s box. Curran then dealt New Zealand a crushing blow by dismissing well-established hitter Phillips, who batted well for 62 runs off 36 balls. Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi smacked Woakes for 14 runs in the second penultimate over of the inning. New Zealand’s batsman could only muster 5 runs in the last over, handing England beat New Zealand a 20-run win.