England vs New Zealand LIVE T20 World Cup cricket result and reaction as England keep hopes alive
England kept their World Cup hopes alive in Brisbane with a 20-run victory over New Zealand
England met New Zealand knowing they needed a win to keep their T20 World Cup hopes in their own hands, and they delivered with a 20-run victory at the Gabba.
Jos Buttler’s side went with the same XI that suffered a shock defeat against Ireland but while they are a team who typically prefer to chase, playing on a used Gabba pitch prompted a change in strategy.
Buttler himself scored 73 as England set New Zealand a target of 180 to win, and although Glenn Phillips fired 62 to give the Kiwis hope, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes and Sam Curran were particularly decisive with ball in hand to stem the run chase and keep England in with a shout of progressing from the group stage.
Follow all the reaction after England beat New Zealand in their must-win T20 World Cup clash:
New Zealand need 180 to win
Jos Buttler was brilliant, if occasionally a little lucky, as he put on 73 and set the platform, and Hales and Livingstone contributed too. The only sticking point for England is whether they might have put on more runs in the final few overs, particularly given the quality they had in reserve with Stokes and Malan coming to the crease late. Even so, 179 is a good score and Eoin Morgan, speaking on Sky Sports, thinks it is above par on a tricky pitch at the Gabba.
England 179-6 (20 overs); New Zealand yet to bat
Stokes tries to hammer Ferguson off the final over but can’t find the meat of his bat. It’s left to Sam Curran, who hits a six which is dropped on the rope – an almost impossible catch. Then a no-ball which Ferguson lets slip out of his hand and almost knocks Curran’s head off, England run a single and that’s a free hit: Stokes grabs a couple off it. But he’s out on the penultimate ball, bowled, and Malan is in for the final delivery: he hits it to the leg-side and a fumble allows England to run three. Good running, but will 180 be enough?
England 163-5 (19 overs); New Zealand yet to bat
England have been slowed down considerably here. Correction: Sam Curran is in, not Malan.
Wicket! Buttler ro Williamson 73, England 162-5 (18.4 overs)
Stokes cracks straight at Williamson at cover, who throws to Southee and Buttler can’t get back to the non-striker’s end quick enough, he’s gone. In comes Dawid Malan.
Wicket! Brook b Southee c Allen 7, England 160-4 (19.2 overs)
Brook batters Southee’s first delivery for six through the leg-side, but he’s gone with the very next ball, caught in the deep. Stokes in next.
England 154-3 (18 overs); New Zealand yet to bat
An excellent over by Ferguson, picking up a wicket for only six runs. Harry Brook is in now for England. Malan and Stokes still to come...
Wicket! Livingstone b Ferguson 20, England 153-3 (18.3 overs)
Livingstone scoops Ferguson for four but on the very next ball he fails trying the same trick, and he’s bowled.
England 148-2 (17 overs); New Zealand yet to bat
Boult again, who almost runs out Livingstone but the batter just makes his ground. With the next ball Buttler clobbers back over Boult’s head for six, almost a baseball shot. He’s shown a bit of everything today, the England captain. Boult responds well with a cutter which Buttler misses. Dots are so valuable right now. Buttler follows that with a single down the ground to bring Livingstone on strike for the final ball: he mis-hits one out to the off-side for two. A reminder that England still have Malan, Stokes and Brook to come. They can afford to go wild in these final three overs.
England 137-2 (16 overs); New Zealand yet to bat
Tim Southee keeps a nice tight line to prevent Livingstone and Buttler from hitting out, four four balls at least. Then Livingstone gets out his sledgehammer and blasts one into the stands on the leg-side, a huge six. He gets away with a sliced, toey shot on the final ball which lands safely and they run two more.
England 125-2 (15 overs); New Zealand yet to bat
Trent Boult is back into the attack but Buttler is unperturbed, pushing a couple to the off-side for two before a crushed boundary straight back down the ground, a stunning hit. He follows that with a cleverly placed four down to the deep square leg boundary, and Boult offers up a wide to add to England’s tally. A single brings Livingstone on strike, who immediately goes for broke and almost picks out a fielder – it just falls safely into a gap. Runs off every ball there for England, totalling 15.
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