COLOMBO: England cricket team defeated New Zealand cricket team by four wickets in a gripping Super 8 clash of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, keeping Pakistan’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals alive.
After winning the toss, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner opted to bat first. The Black Caps posted a competitive total of 159 for 7 in their allotted 20 overs. Glenn Phillips top-scored with 39 runs, while Tim Seifert contributed 35 and Finn Allen added 29.
England’s bowling attack shared the spoils, with Will Jacks, Rehan Ahmed and Adil Rashid claiming two wickets each to restrict New Zealand below the 160-mark.
In reply, England chased down the target in the final over, losing four wickets in the process. The victory propelled England to the top of the group standings with six points.
Following New Zealand’s defeat, Pakistan national cricket team remain in contention for a semi-final berth.
The fate of the second semi-final spot between Pakistan and New Zealand will now be decided in Pakistan’s crucial clash against Sri Lanka national cricket team on Friday.
Pakistan must secure a comprehensive win over Sri Lanka to boost their net run rate; otherwise, New Zealand — currently on three points — could advance to the semi-finals on superior net run rate.
