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![\"James](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1772225108_25_James_Wallace.png\")
James Wallace<\/p>\n
Righto, that\u2019s us done here. A fantastic game, England are hitting their straps at just the right time. New Zealand now have a nervy wait, they need Sri Lanka to do them a favour by beating Pakistan.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ll be bringing you the semi-finals and final next week but that\u2019s all from me today, goodbye!<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n England Captain Harry Brook:<\/p>\n Are England peaking at right time?<\/p>\n double quotation markI think so. We still haven\u2019t played that perfect game. But we\u2019ve got over the line in close games and that stands you in good stead going into the final stages.\u201d<\/p>\n On Jos Buttler\u2019s tribulations:<\/p>\n double quotation markThere\u2019s been a lot said about Jos. He\u2019s played 150 games for England and people need to take a little step back. He\u2019s probably the best white-ball player to play the game. He\u2019s in a rut but it\u2019s exciting to know what he could produce in the next few games.<\/p>\n He\u2019s got fire in his belly and wants to show people what he\u2019s made of. He\u2019s a phenomenal player and I\u2019ve no doubt he\u2019ll go out and do well.\u201d<\/p>\n On the in form Will Jacks:<\/p>\n double quotation markHe\u2019s a proper batter. There was one instance when we played against West Indies at the start of the summer and he leaned on the first ball through the covers for four, or two. It\u2019s a good sign. A lot of lower-order players block or wild swing. He\u2019s a proper batter, he\u2019s played Test cricket, and he\u2019s got immense power as well.\u201d<\/p>\n On the semi-final:<\/p>\n double quotation markWhoever we\u2019re facing, they\u2019re going to be tough opposition. We\u2019ve already played West Indies at the Wankhede. It\u2019s nice to go back to a ground we\u2019ve played on. Both sides are powerful teams. We\u2019ve got to do the little things well.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n New Zealand Captain Mitch Santner:<\/p>\n double quotation markIt was a good match, a tight match. The way England paced that chase and the way Jacks and Rehan put the finishing touches to it, it was good batting.\u201d<\/p>\n It would have made our lives easier if we\u2019d have won. But again, we played a pretty good game. There are obviously moments with bat and ball that turned the game on us but credit to England and how they played.\u201d<\/p>\n We set up a good platform to target the last few overs then lost a few wickets to only scrape to 160. It could have easily been 170. At the end then they need 40 off three and the way they took down the offie, it was good batting.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n That was a special game for Rehan Ahmed, not forgetting he picked up a wicket with his first World Cup delivery earlier after being drafted in for his first match of the tournament. Figures of 2-28 with the ball and 19 off 7 with the bat with two absolutely clutch sixes.<\/p>\n England need 43 runs from the last three overs. New Zealand also had them 2 for 2, 58 for 4 and 117 for 6. Jacks and Ahmed combined to pull of the heist at end.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n England\u2019s Will Jacks is player of the match:<\/p>\n double quotation markI reckon this is the best [match of the tournament for England]. I\u2019m absolutely buzzing with that. To be not out at the end in a tight finish when the game was on a knife edge when I went in, I\u2019m over the moon.<\/p>\n It\u2019s about keeping it simple. I think Rehan played a brilliant innings. Everyone who came out on that pitch struggled and it took time to get the pace of it, how slow it was, but that six he hit second ball off Glenn Phillips just upped the ante and put them on the back foot.<\/p>\n I was then able to just play off him there. The game was laid out there for us with the field and the conditions so we tried to utilise that.<\/p>\n I feel really confident right now. I feel calm in the middle and that is another string to the bow, it can be more important than anything.<\/p>\n Going into the semi-finals, myself and the team are going in the right directions. Three wins in the Super 8s against three strong sides, we\u2019re very happy.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n As things stand England will face either India or West Indies. There are no easy games now but avoiding an unbeaten and confident South Africa might prove to their benefit. Actually, who knows?<\/p>\n New Zealand now need Sri Lanka to beat Pakistan on Saturday, otherwise its a rummage around the net run rates to find the fourth semi-finalist.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>England win by four wickets (with three balls remaining)<\/p>\n Henry goes short, it hits Jacks on the helmet or glove and that\u2019s it! It runs away for four and England win! A 44 run partnership from 16 balls between Will Jacks and Rehan Ahmed has pulled the rug from New Zealand!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Two singles off Henry\u2019s first two balls. England need 3 off 4 balls\u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Matt Henry to bowl the final over, pace on will be a different challenge for Jacks and Ahmed.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 19th over: England 155-6 (Jacks 27, Ahmed 18) Santner to bowl the penultimate over. Rehan Ahmed reverse hits for four! This is a great cameo from the youngster. The field is spread and New Zealand are wilting under the pressure here, their World Cup campaign is disappearing in front of their eyes. Jacks hits the gaps and they batters run two twos before a single brings Ahmed on strike for the final ball of the over\u2026<\/p>\n SIX! Ahmed flicks his back leg out KP flamingo style and clears the rope at long off. It just clears Lockie Ferguson leaping on the fence, amazing shot!<\/p>\n England need just five runs off the final over. Phew. New Zealand look shellshocked.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 18th over: England 139-6 (Jacks 22, Ahmed 7) You bet he can! Ahmed hits a 94 metre SIX down the ground with a flourish. That is some shot, he\u2019s only just come to the crease.<\/p>\n Now then! Will Jacks hits another massive SIX to the longest part of the ground off Glenn Phillips and then he hits back to back fours down the ground and through the leg side to make it 22 runs off the over!<\/p>\n 21 runs from 12 balls now, amazing hitting from England.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.49 EST<\/p>\n 17th over: England 117-6 (Jacks 8, Ahmed 0) Rehan Ahmed joins Will Jacks, England need 43 runs from 18 balls, New Zealand have got the squeeze well and truly on. Ahmed can certainly bat, can he do it on this stodgy surface?<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Tom Banton c Chapman b Ravindra 33 (England 117-6)<\/p>\n Rachin Ravindra makes the run rate climb with just three runs off his first four balls. Banton tries to break the shackles but his club into the leg side is caught by Chapman. It was a short ball and there for the hitting too.<\/p>\n Rachin Ravindra celebrates the wicket of Tom Banton. Photograph: Eranga Jayawardena\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.54 EST<\/p>\n 16th over: England 114-5 (Banton 32, Jacks 6) Jacks sweeps Sodhi for a much needed four. SIX! Game on as far as Tom Banton is concerned, he marmalises a huge 92 metre shot into the crowd! 13 off the over, 46 needed from 24 balls.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 15th over: England 101-5 (Banton 21, Jacks 1) It\u2019s all down to Tom Banton and Will Jacks now for England, 59 from 30 balls needed.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Sam Curran c Phillips b Ravindra 24 (England 100-5)<\/p>\n Curran is caught in the deep!<\/p>\n Glenn Phillips takes the catch to dismiss Sam Curran. Photograph: MB Media\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.41 EST<\/p>\n 14th over: England 97-4 (Banton 21, Curran 24) Sam Curran launches Ish Sodhi over the leg side for SIX but the spinner gets out of the rest of the over for just two more, England need boundaries.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 13th over: England 89-4 (Banton 20, Curran 17) Mitch Santner returns and drags down a \u2018hit me\u2019 ball, Sam Curran duly obliges and swats behind square for four. Santner then shows all his wiles by dotting up the rest of the over. Just five off it, not enough for England.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 12th over: England 84-4 (Banton 20, Curran 12) McConchie is a guilty man on the leg side boundary as he fumbles a Banton slog sweep for four. Banton then uses his long levers to lift Phillips back over his head for four more off the last ball, England just about hanging in there.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 11th over: England 73-4 (Banton 11, Curran 10) Sam Curran cuts Ravindra for England\u2019s first four in 16 balls, an epoch in T20 cricket.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 10th over: England 64-4 (Banton 9, Curran 3) Banton survives a big shout for lbw by getting a graze on the ball before it hit his pad. New Zealand are constricting England though, just five runs off the over. Ten overs to go and 96 needed from 60 balls.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 9th over: England 59-4 (Banton 6, Curran 1) Bethell looked dismayed after Phillips pulled off that catch, he didn\u2019t think he was in danger at all\u2026 until he was. Excellent from New Zealand, just three singles and the wicket off Ravindra\u2019s first over. As Mike Atherton says on the tv comms, Mitch Santner has England exactly where he wants them.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Jacob Bethell c Phillips b Ravindra 21 (England 58-4)<\/p>\n Brilliant catch from Glenn Phillips! He dashes in and dives forward full length, plucking the ball off the turf to get rid of Bethell. Those are the hardest catches to take and he has nailed it. England in trouble.<\/p>\n Jacob Bethell walks back to the pavilion after his dismissal for 21. Uh oh. Photograph: R Satish Babu\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.16 EST<\/p>\n 8th over: England 56-3 (Bethell 20, Banton 5) Tom Banton joins Bethell and is into his work with a hard sweep for four. Santner is saving his couple of overs for later after the departure of Harry Brook. England won\u2019t take a backward step but it is hard work against spin on this wicket.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Harry Brook c Mitchell b Phillips 26 (England 50-3)<\/p>\n Big wicket! Harry Brook holes out to mid off and Glenn Phillips knows how important that scalp is, he hares off in celebration.<\/p>\n Glenn Phillips celebrates after taking the wicket of England’s Harry Brook. Photograph: Lahiru Harshana\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.06 EST<\/p>\n 7th over: England 50-2 (Brook 26, Bethell 19) Excellent over from Santner, just three singles off it.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 6th over: England 47-2 (Brook 24, Bethell 18) More spin now, Cole McConchie into the attack. Brook steps away and lifts him over cover for four. That is very much his area against pace or spin. A single brings Bethell on strike, he cuts for four off the final ball. England fighting back after a nightmare start to their innings.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 5th over: England 34-2 (Brook 15, Bethell 14) Mitchell Santner into the attack and it is a different game already. The spinner is a master of varying his speeds, just two runs off the first five balls. Shot! Jacob Bethell unfurls a reverse-sweep and threads it perfectly for four.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 4th over: England 28-2 (Brook 15, Bethell 9) Bethell swats Ferguson\u2019s first ball down the ground for four. He clips for a single off the next. Brook on strike and you can\u2019t take your eyes off it. Brook stands tall and crunches four through the off side. Ferguson responds with a toe crushing yorker. It\u2019s a brilliant contest at the moment, every ball an event.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 3rd over: England 19-2 (Brook 11, Bethell 4) Brook attempts to reverse scoop Henry and wears it in the chest. He got that all wrong, and the ball ended up hitting him with a horribly dull thud. Henry then beats England\u2019s captain with a doozy that nips away. Brook steps to leg and flays away for four. Great viewing this. Oh my days! What a shot from Harry Brook! He steps to the off side and with a flick of the wrist sends the ball soaring into the scoreboard for SIX. Sublime and ridiculous from Harry Brook. What else did you expect?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 2nd over: England 8-2 (Brook 1, Bethell 4) Can Brook and Bethell rescue England? A scampered leg bye gets Bethell off strike. Jos Buttler really did cut a disconsolate figure as he hauled his bones off the pitch. New Zealand will see these early wickets as bonuses, the real threat will be with spin shortly. Gulp.<\/p>\n Brook and Bethell both survive spawny inside edges, the latter picks up four from his. New Zealand are all over England like inexpensive tailoring.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Jos Buttler c Seifert b Ferguson 0 (England 2-2)<\/p>\n Buttler is gone for a duck! He fences at a shorter ball from Lockie Ferguson and nicks behind for Seifert to gobble the catch. England in trouble.<\/p>\n Lockie Ferguson celebrates the wicket of Jos Buttler for a duck. Photograph: Robert Cianflone\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.34 EST<\/p>\n 1st over: England 2-1 (Buttler 0, Brook 0) Matt Henry has a flight to catch in about four hours, he\u2019s flying home for the birth of his second child. He\u2019s making it count on the field before he departs, landing it on a hankie and nibbling it both ways. Just two runs and the wicket of Salt off the first over. Harry Brook joins Jos Buttler in the middle. Here we go\u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.23 EST<\/p>\n WICKET! Phil Salt c Seifert b Henry 2 (England 2-1)<\/p>\n Matt Henry is right on the button from the off. Salt edges for a couple through the slips and then is beaten comprehensively by an outswinger next ball.<\/p>\n Gone! Henry finds the edge and Salt is on his way! What a start from the seamer.<\/p>\n Phil Salt is gone for 2. Photograph: Eranga Jayawardena\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.35 EST<\/p>\n Righto, here come Phil Salt and Jos Buttler. Matt Henry is limbering up for New Zealand, as Nasser Hussain says on the commentary, he is not the bowler you want to face when you are out of form.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>New Zealand make 159-7<\/p>\n That helps the cause. Kiwi captain Mitch Santner slams the final ball of the innings for SIX over long off to give his side a final shot in the arm. It will be a tricky chase for England on a spinning surface but the outfield is lightning fast and they bat deep.<\/p>\n New Zealand need to win to make the semi-finals, they might\u2019ve hoped for a few more runs on the board when they were 97-3 in the 11th over but they know how to get the job done on this wicket.<\/p>\n Back for the chase soon and it\u2019ll be all eyes on Jos Buttler, can he hit his away out of the doldrums?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.08 EST<\/p>\n WICKET! Cole McConchie b Rehan Ahmed 14 (New Zealand 153-7)<\/p>\n Lovely ball from Rehan Ahmed, defeats Cole McConchie in the air and splatters the stumps with three balls left in the innings.<\/p>\n