England vs New Zealand Cricket World Cup 2019: Hosts safely into semi-finals
Eoin Morgan’s side are into the Cricket World Cup semi-finals
England have reached the World Cup semi-finals after beating New Zealand by 119 runs at Chester-le-Street.
Jonny Bairstow scored a second-successive century as England posted 305 before a dominant display in the field saw them coast home with plenty to spare. They will now likely play India at Edgbaston next Thursday in their first appearance in the final four since 1992.
Here's how it played out:
Please allow a moment for the blog to load
Welcome to The Independent's live coverage of today's Cricket World Cup group clash between England and New Zealand, with Eoin Morgan's side needing a victory to book their place in the semi-finals of the tournament or risk premature elimination.
This is it, then.
It has been a spottier-than-hoped group phase for pre-tournament favourites England but matters remain in their own hands. An impressive victory over India on Sunday means a win against New Zealand at Chester-le-Street today would secure a semi-final spot - but lose and the door remains open for Pakistan.
Two of the best one-day teams in the world meet at the Riverside Ground, and the first ball is less than an hour away.
To the North we turn, to County Durham and the Riverside Ground, a late-comer to the World Cup but resplendent in morning sunshine.
Conditions are set fair, the pitch is flat and firm and ripe for run-making - factors that rather play into England's hands.
Further boosting England's chances is the absence of New Zealand's Lockie Ferguson. The quick bowler will not be risked ahead of a likely semi-final, a tight hamstring perhaps caused by his everything-and-the-kitchen-sink action.
England have no such concerns. Jason Roy is fit after a suspicious bang to the arm saw him sit out his side's fielding efforts against India (no bad thing given his own hamstring issues, of course) while the fast bowling contingent has made it through the group stages relatively unscathed.
We are expecting an unchanged England side and thus the continued deployment of five seamers and one spinner, on a Chester-le-Street surface that tends to lend itself to an attack balanced in such a manner.
New Zealand tinkered for the first time all tournament for their last game, brining in Henry Nicholls at the top of the order and introducing Ish Sodhi's leg-spin to their attack.
Nicholls should retain his place ahead of a misfiring Colin Munro while Sodhi is perhaps a touch more vulnerable, with a pair of handy seam bowlers in Tim Southee and Matt Henry both sitting on the sidelines. One will certainly come in in place of Ferguson, but Kane Williamson might just fancy having three genuine pace bowlers on which to call.
Indeed, it looks like Matt Henry will be playing - he's received what looks to be a tankard ahead of a 50th ODI cap.
The toss is a little less than five minutes away at Chester-le-Street, and we'll get the teams confirmed for you as soon as they are in...
The weather is good, the pitch is excellent, and a sell-out crowd is expected. You could hardly ask for more perfect cricketing conditions at the Riverside Ground, and it's time for the toss...
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments