England keep Pakistan T20 World Cup hopes alive by beating New Zealand | Sport News
England Secures Top Spot in T20 World Cup Group 2 with Victory over New Zealand
England has clinched the top position in Group 2 of the T20 World Cup’s Super Eights, defeating New Zealand by four wickets in a match held at R Premadasa Stadium on Friday. Despite the loss, New Zealand awaits the outcome of Pakistan’s upcoming match, which is crucial for their semifinal prospects.
Pakistan is set to face Sri Lanka on Saturday in Pallekele. For Pakistan to advance alongside England, they must win and do so by a margin sufficient to surpass New Zealand’s net run rate.
The English chase was spearheaded by Player of the Match Will Jacks, whose performance led the team to successfully navigate New Zealand’s score of 159-7. The victory was marked by a challenging start, as England lost openers Phil Salt and Jos Buttler within the first two runs.
When captain Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell were dismissed, leaving England at 58-4, the match appeared to sway in New Zealand’s favor. However, the unbeaten partnership of Jacks and Rehan Ahmed, who scored 32 and 19 respectively, proved decisive as they added 44 runs for the seventh wicket to secure the win.
Reflecting on his achievement, Jacks expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating, “I reckon this is the best.” He commended Ahmed for his impressive play and emphasized the team’s strong position heading into the semifinals with three wins against formidable opponents.
Earlier, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and opted to bat, knowing that a victory would solidify their position for the semifinals. The team fielded the same eleven that recently defeated Sri Lanka, while England adjusted its lineup by bringing in Ahmed for spinner Jamie Overton.
New Zealand established a promising start, reaching 64-0 after only 6.5 overs. However, Adil Rashid made a crucial breakthrough by stumping Tim Seifert, followed by Will Jacks eliminating Finn Allen. Ahmed marked his World Cup debut with a wicket on his first ball, taking Rachin Ravindra out, and finished with a total of two wickets alongside Rashid.
England captain Harry Brook praised Ahmed’s impact, noting, “He took the game away from them.” He reiterated the team’s commitment to selecting players based on conditions, highlighting Ahmed’s impressive performance.
In Group 1, South Africa has already secured a semifinal spot. The second place will be determined by the outcome of the match between India and the West Indies on Sunday, with England poised to face the winner.
For Pakistan to advance past New Zealand and secure a semifinal against South Africa, they must either defeat Sri Lanka by approximately 65 runs or chase down the target in fewer than 13 overs, contingent on the performance in the first innings.
