ENG VS NZ T20I

That is it from this game as no team has been guaranteed a spot in the semi-finals from Group 1. The action in the T20 World Cup continues on the 2nd of November with another doubleheader. In the first game of the day, Zimbabwe will take on the Netherlands in Adelaide and that game will begin at 9.30 am IST (4 am GMT). The second game is a clash between two Asian teams as India play Bangladesh and the game will begin at 1.30 pm IST (8 am GMT). The build-up for both those games will begin much sooner. Do join us then. Cheers!

Jos Buttler the winning captain is also the Player of the Match for his 73 runs in just 47 deliveries. He says that they had a poor performance in the last game but they had the belief to turn things around. Adds that in these tournaments you expect to be under pressure and it can be ruthless as we saw South Africa going out despite winning four out of their five games in the last World Cup. Mentions that the wicket was a bit tricky and praises Alex Hales for his knock. Tells that it is always nice to look back at things like this (On going past Eoin Morgan as the highest scorer for England in T20Is). Also, credits Moeen Ali for the way he bowled and put New Zealand under pressure. Further says that in T20 cricket you need to be patient and keep backing your players. It is important to encourage them. Says that they were aiming for 160-165, but they were happy to go beyond that. Tells that batting first was the right decision and the early wickets helped too. Ends by saying that their focus will be to win against Sri Lanka.

Kane Williamson the captain of New Zealand credits England for the way they played and says that they struggled to get a breakthrough early. Adds that Jos Buttler and Alex Hales were outstanding at the top of the order and that their opponents were far more clinical than they were. Claims that they tried to take the game deep and they had their moments but they fell short. About the dropped catches he agrees that they can't give lives to quality players as they will make you pay. Adds that he thought he had the ball clamped in his arms but the replays showed otherwise and it was a bit embarrassing. Mentions that Glenn Phillips was outstanding and has now played two good innings in difficult conditions. Ends by saying that they will always be put under pressure in big competitions and they hope to take confidence into the next game.

Time for the presentation...

In the first inning, England got off to a flier with their openers putting on an 81-run partnership as they both reached their half-century. Jos Buttler top-scored with 73 but the Kiwi spinners did well to pull the game back and restrict their opponents to under 180. They were, however, unable to take the momentum into their batting and despite Glenn Phillips's heroics they have fallen well short of the target.

New Zealand did not get off to a good start as Devon Conway could not make the most of a close shave as he got dismissed soon after getting a stumping scare. Finn Allen got off to a start but could not get going and once his wicket fell Kane Williamson got together with Glen Phillips to put on a 91-run partnership of just 59 balls. They had set a good platform by consolidating before the Drinks break and taking the attack to the bowlers after the interval. However, once Kane Williamson departed on a run-a-ball 40, it was difficult for the new batters to accelerate immediately. The dismissal of Glenn Phillips on 62 all but sealed the deal as the target seemed too far away for the lower-order batters.

England were right on top of their opponents right from the word go operating with spin from one end and pace from the other. Chris Woakes claimed a wicket in his first over and Sam Curran came on to dismiss the other opener. A dropped catch from Moeen Ali proved to be expensive as New Zealand began building a partnership that threatened to take the game away from them. Ben Stokes was brought into the attack for one over and it proved to be a masterstroke as he broke the partnership which caused the new batters to collapse under the pressure. The pace bowlers claimed all the wickets as Sam Curran and Chris Woakes picked up two wickets each with Mark Wood and Ben Stokes chipping in with one each.

England have kept their hopes alive with a complete performance! New Zealand at one point looked like they could push for the target but they lost 4 wickets for 40 runs towards the end and have fallen short by 20 runs. The win for England has blown the group open with four teams fighting for two semi-final spots and things have gotten really interesting. New Zealand will be disappointed in missing out on an opportunity to confirm the spot in the knockouts but they still claim the top spot in the group courtesy of a superior net run rate.

A single to end the innings! Sam Curran bowls another good yorker, on leg, Mitchell Santner squeezes it towards long on for a single. ENGLAND WIN BY 20 RUNS!

Sam Curran bangs in a bouncer, on middle and leg, Mitchell Santner misses his pull shot.

Sam Curran nails the yorker this time, on middle and leg, Mitchell Santner digs it back to the bowler.

This is full and on leg, Mitchell Santner drills it towards long on for a brace.

WIDE! Sam Curran loses his line and serves this full delivery down the leg, Mitchell Santner misses his flick and the ball goes through to the keeper. Jos Buttler takes a review to save the wide, but UltraEdge shows no bat involved. Wided.

This is on a length and on off, Ish Sodhi drags this towards deep mid-wicket for a single. New Zealand need 25 runs in 4 balls now.

Swing and a miss! This is full and outside off, slower too, Ish Sodhi swings wildly but misses.

SIX! BANG! Chris Woakes bowls a slower one, on a length and on off, Mitchell Santner stays there and pulls it over the long on fence for a biggie. New Zealand need 26 runs in the last over.

WIDE! Chris Woakes loses his line and serves this length ball way outside off, Mitchell Santner leaves it alone. Wided.