Clinical England kept their composure to defeat New Zealand by 20 runs at the Gabba in Brisbane on Tuesday, saving their Twenty20 World Cup campaign.
With one set of games remaining, England and its opponents, who were very likely to be eliminated had they lost, moved into the top two spots in Group 1.
The top two alone advance to the semifinals.
It puts a lot of pressure on the hosts and reigning champions Australia, who must now defeat Afghanistan in their last game while hoping that either England or New Zealand falters.
The squad is quite confident despite our terrible performance (losing to Ireland), said to England captain Jos Buttler, who helped England reach 179/6 with a 73-ball 73. Alex Hales also scored fifty runs.
We were hoping for 160-165, but we managed to go over that; tonight, we gave it all.
With the bat, the skipper was instrumental as England began to demonstrate why they were one of the pre-tournament favorites. Now they control their own destiny.
When New Zealand starter Devon Conway leg-glanced a ball from Chris Woakes, Jos Buttler made a breathtaking diving grab to give England the advantage in the field.
After five overs, New Zealand was 28/2 when Finn Allen caught a slower ball from Sam Curran and sent it to Ben Stokes at deep mid-wicket.
While facing a tight bowling attack, the Black Caps were having trouble, but when Moeen Ali dismissed the in-form Glenn Phillips with New Zealand 64/2 and he was on 15, the tides turned decisively in their favor.
Ali managed to avoid Phillips’ attempted draw shot, which he skied directly to Ali.
The English were punished by Phillips, who smashed a century against Sri Lanka in New Zealand’s most recent game, as he took only 25 balls to reach his half-century.
Buttler was switching up his assault and used seven different bowlers in an effort to make a breakthrough.
When Black Caps captain Kane Williamson (40) squeaked a Stokes delivery to Adil Rashid at short third, his seventh decision finally paid off.
While James Neesham attempted many sixes, Phillips continued to pound the England attack all over the Gabba.
Almost immediately after losing Daryl Mitchell, who was caught on the boundary by replacement fielder Chris Jordan off Mark Wood, he fell the same way off Sam Curran.
As the lower order failed to locate the boundary after Phillips fell, New Zealand’s challenge was all but done.
Buttler charges the Black Caps
Williamson added, “Credit to the way England played.
“They exert pressure on us. Hats off to them; they performed wonderfully and were quite methodical.
“The total was only a hair above par. Although we made an effort, they bowled very well.
Before surpassing previous captain Eoin Morgan as the top run-scorer for England in T20 Internationals, Buttler was dropped twice during his entertaining inning.
Williamson later came to regret not bringing charges against Buttler.
Williamson said, “He’s one of, if not the finest player in the game.
He threatened to make you pay if you did it because he made the limits seem smaller than they really are.
After four games, New Zealand, England, and Australia all have five points.
However, on the basis of net run-rate, England sits second in Group 1 behind New Zealand, the prior year’s runner-ups.
On Friday, when the hosts take on already-eliminated Afghanistan, New Zealand plays Ireland. With a win, they might have guaranteed a berth in the semi-finals.
On Saturday, England plays Asian champion Sri Lanka to finish the group.