It was another dominating performance by England as they defeated New Zealand by 87 runs at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff just finished few minutes ago. England were invited by New Zealand and scored 310. Despite Kane Williamson scoring 87 the rest of batting failed.
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson won the toss and elected to field at Cardiff today. Jason Roy and Alex Hales gave the team a steady start with 23 runs in the first five overs. Trying to hit a big shot Roy was bowled by Adam Milne for 13. At the end of first 10 overs, England was 50 for 1.
After the restrictions overs, Joe Root and Alex Hales put the pressure on New Zealand bowlers hitting the bad balls away for boundaries and taking singles. Alex Hales took 60 balls to complete his half century before being dismissed for 56. Both Joe Root and Hales put on 81 runs for the second wicket. Eoin Morgan did not contribute much scoring only 13 runs. Joe Root continued from where he left in the first match against Bangladesh. He scored 50 in 52 balls while Ben Stokes played attacking strokes.
Joe Root was dismissed by Corey Anderson for 64. The New Zealand bowlers picked 2 quick wickets of Ben Stokes scoring 48 runs and Moeen Ali with 12 to put England under some pressure at 230 for 6 in the 41st over. Jos Buttler with the tailenders made sure that the hosts scored runs. Buttler scored his half century in 41 balls while Rashid, Plunkett contributed 12 runs each. Jos remained not out on 61 in 48 balls with 2 sixes and 2 fours. England posted 310 in 49.3 overs.
Chasing the target of 311, Luke Ronchi was dismissed by Jake Ball in the very first over itself. Martin Guptill and Captain Kane Williamson steadied the innings with good stroke play and solid technique against England new ball bowlers of Mark Wood and Jake Ball. At the end of first 10 overs, New Zealand was 40 for 1.
Both batsmen put on 61 runs for the second wicket before Guptill was dismissed for 27 by Ben Stokes. Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor steadied the innings with the captain leading from the front. He made his fifty in 66 balls. The two were going strongly as Mark Wood dismissed well set Williamson for 87 ending a 95 runs stand for the third wicket. After that wickets fell at regular intervals and New Zealand was bowled out for 223 in 44.3 overs. England won the match by 87 to progress into the semi-finals.
England 310 all out in 49.3 overs ( Jos Buttler 61*, Joe Root 64, Corey Anderson 3/55) beat New Zealand 223 in 44.3 overs ( Kane Williamson 87, Liam Plunkett 4/55) by 87 runs.
Man of the Match: Jake Ball
The next match of the tournament will see Pakistan take on South Africa at Edgbaston in a day night affair.
