England into World Twenty20 semis but Kiwis out
England will enter the World Twenty20 semi-finals with a perfect record in the Super Eight stage of the competition, courtesy of yesterday’s three-wicket victory over New Zealand.
It was a victory that ended the Blackcaps’ World Twenty20 hopes, and ensured Pakistan will move through to the final four in the Caribbean after Shahid Afridi’s men finished their Super Eight campaign with victory over South Africa.
Importantly for England, it was a victory achieved in the absence of star batsman Kevin Pietersen who had flown home for the birth of his first child, after consecutive player-of-the-match performances in his side’s opening two Super Eight matches.
It was a case of everything going to plan for KP – he welcomed a son into the world in the morning and by the time Pakistan had defeated the Proteas, he knew he’d be back on a plane to the Caribbean to assist his team with their tilt at what, at the beginning of the competition, most would have viewed as an unlikely title.
In Pietersen’s absence it was, no great surprise here, Eoin Morgan who again stepped up to top-score for England as they chased town the 150-run target set by New Zealand in the match.
The former Ireland player made 40 from 41 deliveries to shore up England’s run chase after a middle-order wobble, with KP’s replacement for the match Ravi Bopara falling for nine and Paul Collingwood making just three as Scott Styris gave his side hope of containing England to a sub 150-run score.
Morgan and Luke Wright (24 from as many balls) ensured that task was going to be much tougher, but it was Tim Bresnan (23 from 17) who sealed the victory for England with five balls to spare, following up an economical bowling performance with an important batting cameo when it counted most.
"I've definitely got two strings to my bow and I do like batting at the end when I can play my shots,” the Yorkshire man said after the performance that earned him player-of-the-match honours.
Earlier in the day Bresnan completed his four overs with figures of 1-20, that wicket the all-important scalp of the powerful Jesse Ryder, while Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad each took two wickets apiece, and Ryan Sidebottom one, with New Zealand’s top-scorer Ross Taylor (44 from 44) caught out trying to smack the mop-haired paceman over the boundary.
In one sense the win may have been academic for England, but their emergence from the Super Eights undefeated will see them enter Thursday’s semi-final brimming with confidence.
"It's crucial that you keep the momentum going and stay in winning ways," Collingwood said post-match. "There's areas to improve on again, but I'm absolutely delighted in how we've gone.”
England’s semi-final opponent will be decided after the final Super Eight matches in Group F today. After finishing at the top of Group E, England are likely to avoid a semi-final against the so far undefeated Australia, but will face the second-placed Group F team in the semis.
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