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Favourites England led by Jos Buttler’s 73 registered a comprehensive win over New Zealand to end their unbeaten turn in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia. The 20-run win at the Gabba, Brisbane, helped England rise to the second spot in Group 1 and increase their chances of reaching the semi-final on the basis on net run rate (NRR).
Openers fall in powerplay overs
The Kiwi run chase of 180 took a major hit with their in-form batter Devon Conway getting out for a single-digit score to Chris Woakes in the second over. Explosive Finn Allen tried to approach the run chase in his typical fashion. Sam Curran got the better of Allen (16) by banging one short and forcing a mistimed pull shot. As the two openers got out in the powerplay overs, New Zealand could manage to post 40 runs on the board.
The costly drop
Skipper Kane Williamson tried to play the anchor role but scoring at run-a-ball was not the need of the hour with required run rate in double digits. In the 10th over, Adil Rashid almost got rid of in-form batter Glenn Phillips but Moeen Ali dropped an absolute sitter. Phillips was batting on 15 then. After 10 overs, New Zealand had 66 runs on the board.
Phillips livens up the Gabba
Phillips infused life into the run chase with a few big hits. He hit Rashid for two consecutive sixes in the 14th over. He also reached his half-century from 25 deliveries in the 17-run over. Ben Stokes broke the third-wicket partnership with the wicket of Williamson. The skipper scored 40 runs off 40 deliveries including just three boundaries.
Curran gets big wicket again
James Neesham (6) was sent ahead of Daryl Mitchell to do some damage but Mark Wood got the better of him. In the 17th over, Woakes got rid of Mitchell (3) as well. Curran was brought back into the attack. Phillips barely had support from the end and went for a big shot which found substitute fielder Chris Jordan in the deep. He scored 62 runs from 36 deliveries including for fours and three sixes.
Comprehensive win
With Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner in the middle, England were able to defend the target easily. In the final over, the Kiwis needed 26 runs. Curran bowled well and conceded just five runs as England ended New Zealand’s unbeaten run in the tournament with a 20-run win.
Half a chance dropped
Earlier Buttler won the toss and opted to bat first in the must-win encounter. No wickets fell in the powerplay overs as England put 48 runs on the board. The only chance was the one Williamson missed while diving. Buttler was batting on eight runs then.
Hales hits fifty, another dropped catch
In the 11th over, Alex Hales got to his half-century from 39 deliveries. Hales could not carry on and got out stumped to Santner. He scored 52 runs from 40 deliveries including seven fours and one six. Lockie Ferguson came back into the attack and Buttler decided to take him on. Ferguson lured him into a loose pull shot but Mitchell dropped an easy chance. The England skipper was batting on 36 then.
English finish well
The ploy to promote Moeen up the order did not work as Sodhi got the better of him in the 14th over. Meanwhile, Buttler got to his 18th T20I half-century from 35 deliveries. Buttler played more freely as slog overs approach. Liam Livingstone joined him and smacked Tim Southee for a huge six. Ferguson got Livingstone's (20) wicket in the 18th over as he went for a cheeky shot. In the penultimate over, Southee conceded a six but got the wicket of Harry Brook (7) off the next ball. Buttler got run out as well trying to sneak an extra run. He scored 73 runs from 47 deliveries including seven fours and two sixes. In the final over, Curran hit Ferguson for a six. He got the wicket of Stokes (8) off the penultimate delivery but Malan and Curran ran hard between the wickets to take three runs off the final ball to get the score to 179/6.
