| 0.0 : A mouthwatering contest coming your way! Itâll be New Zealandâs fiery bowling attack up against the power-packed English batting. Will we see Kane Williamson seek his revenge and progress to the final? Or will it be Morgan and his men sending the Kiwis home? Donât go anywhere, action coming up soon! |
| The Blackcaps started their campaign on a losing note but have come back stronger than ever and won all their remaining games thereafter and will come into this semi-final game pretty high on confidence. New Zealandâs bowling attack will be the key, as it has been throughout the tournament. Their batting on the other side has been inconsistent, we saw Martin Guptill and Daryl Michell play a few impressive knocks, and the middle order doing its fair bit to get New Zealand home. Not to forget, |
| The pre-tournament favourites, England, were always expected to make it to the semis. They did that in style by topping their group and getting big wins over strong opponents like Australia and West Indies. But the loss in the final game of the group stage against South Africa and more than that the loss of their prolific hard-hitting opener Jason Roy will be a little concern for the English team. Their middle order has not been tested enough in this tournament so far and if the Kiwis can make s |
| Itâs time for the first semi-final clash at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi! Hello and welcome folks, to a match that will hopefully be a thrilling battle between England and New Zealand. Well, we all know what we witnessed the last time these two sides met in an ICC World Cup, a game full of drama and probably the best ODIÂ game to have ever been played. We will hope to see the same kind of fireworks in this big encounter and boy, if we do see it we are in for one entertaining evening. |
| ... SHOW TIME ... |
| Pitch - The surface is expected to be two-paced and batting is going to be challenging. The batting side should look to make hay in the first six overs against a hard new ball. |
| Toss - Time for the all-important toss. Both, Eoin Morgan and Kane Williamson are in the middle. The English skipper flips the coin, Tails is the call and it's a Tail. NEW ZEALAND ELECT TO FIELD! |
| New Zealand (Unchanged Playing XI) - Martin Guptill, Daryl Mitchell, Kane Williamson (C), Devon Conway (WK), Glenn Phillips, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Adam Milne, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult. |
| England (Playing XI) - Jos Buttler (WK), Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Eoin Morgan (C), Sam Billings (In for Jason Roy), Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Chris Jordan, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood. |
| A quick chat with Jos Buttler. The English wicketkeeper says that he is keeping things very simple and is trying to take advantage of the Powerplay. Adds that not having Jason Roy is a huge blow as he is a massive part of the team but that gives opportunities to other guys. Says that the consistency by the bowlers has been great and starting well in the Powerplay has helped them a lot. |
| Eoin Morgan, the skipper of England, says that he would have bowled first as well, as that has been the trend in this tournament. Hopes that the toss doesn't decide the game. Informs that Sam Billings comes in for Jason Roy. Shares that Roy missing out is devastating but it provides a hardworking guy like Billings a chance. Confirms that Bairstow will open the batting with Buttler. Mentions that New Zealand are a very good side and they cannot afford to take them lightly. |
| Tim Southee comes in for a quick interview as well. The Kiwi speedster says that they are very excited to be here. Adds that their experience with the ball has come in handy. Shares that losing Lockie Ferguson early was a big blow but Adam Milne coming in has done well for them. |
| Kane Williamson, the captain of New Zealand, says it looks like a good surface and the dew can come into play and hence, he wants to bowl. Informs they are playing the same team. Adds it is a busy period for them, they are trying to build on the performances and the players are looking forward to the challenge. Further says that the experienced bowlers have stepped up to the occasion and the conditions have also suited them. Ends by saying the attitude out there is important and they would look |
| Here we go, folks! All set for the first semi-final of what has been a fantastic tournament. The teams stride out for the anthems. But before the anthems, the players and the officials along with the ground staff will observe a moment of silence for Mohan Singh, the chief curator of this ground, who recently passed away. Now, the anthem of New Zealand will be played followed by that of Great Britain. |
| 0.1 : Tim Southee to Jos Buttler, Southee begins with a short ball on middle, at 83 mph, Buttler stands tall and pulls it down to fine leg for a single. England are underway. |
| 0.2 : Tim Southee to Jonny Bairstow, Southee pitches it up on this occasion, outside off, Jonny Bairstow drives it off the front foot but finds the fielder at covers. |
| 0.3 : Tim Southee to Jonny Bairstow, Quick run. A touch too full in length and around off, Bairstow gets behind the line and pushes it with soft hands towards mid on. They rush across for a single. |
| 0.4 : Tim Southee to Jos Buttler, Beaten all ends up! A lovely outswinger from Southee. Lands it close to off and takes it away with the seam movement, Jos has his feet rooted to the crease as he attempts to drive. Misses. |
| 0.5 : Tim Southee to Jos Buttler, Southee attempts to repeat the same delivery from the middle stump line. But this time there is no movement and it skids on with the angle. Buttler tries to flick but misses. He is hit on the pads but only a muted appeal for an lbw follows. Missing leg. |
| 0.6 : Trent Boult set to steam in from the other end. |
| 1.1 : Trent Boult to Jonny Bairstow, Right on the money, as always. Boult lands it on a length around middle, Bairstow gets behind the line and defends it towards mid on. |
| 1.2 : Trent Boult to Jonny Bairstow, Trent Boult drags his length back and delivers it around leg, Jonny Bairstow tries to pull but misses. It hits him on the thigh pad and rolls towards backward point. |
| 1.3 : Trent Boult to Jonny Bairstow, Beautiful delivery. Some inward swing in the air as it lands fuller around off, Bairstow tries to play the trajectory but the ball lands and leaves him with the seam movement. Beats the outside edge by a whisker. Unplayable. |
| 1.4 : Trent Boult to Jonny Bairstow, Fractionally short and around off, Jonny Bairstow punches it through the gap at covers for a brace. |
| 1.5 : Trent Boult to Jonny Bairstow, Short and around off, Jonny sways away from the line. |
| 1.6 : Trent Boult to Jonny Bairstow, FOUR! Again, a boundary on the last ball spoils a good over. This one is a bit streaky also. Back of a length, around off and angling away, Jonny Bairstow rocks back to crack it square of the wicket on the off side but it takes the inner edge and speeds past the stumps to the fine leg fence. |
| 2.1 : Tim Southee to Jos Buttler, Fuller and around off, some movement there, Buttler pushes it off his front foot to covers. |
| 0.6 : Tim Southee to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Here comes the first boundary of the first semi-final. Southee stays full but the line again is on middle and leg, Buttler flicks it with great timing and finds the gap at backward square leg. A boundary results. |
| 2.2 : Tim Southee to Jos Buttler, On a length and close to off, Jos taps it down towards cover-point and rotates the strike. |
| 2.3 : Tim Southee to Jonny Bairstow, Delivers it on a good length at 134 kph, around middle and shaping down, Jonny fails to defend and wears it high on his pads. |
| 2.4 : Tim Southee to Jonny Bairstow, Fuller one, around middle, Bairstow stays back with an open stance and pushes it towards mid on. |
| 2.5 : Tim Southee to Jonny Bairstow, Around middle, nipping back in and beating the attempted cross-batted shot from Bairstow. It pings him on the pads and dies near the surface. |
| 2.6 : Tim Southee to Jonny Bairstow, Fullish and on middle, shaping away a bit along with holding up from the pitch, Jonny Bairstow pushes it out a bit aerially but safely towards mid on. Top over by Tim! |
| 3.1 : Trent Boult to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Class written all over this shot! Trent Boult looks for some movement but in the process, he delivers it a little too full around off. There is a slight inward movement but Buttler covers it and drives it crisply down the ground for a boundary. |
| 3.2 : Trent Boult to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Shot! The last shot forces Boult to change his length. He goes a bit short but the line is wide outside off, Buttler latches onto the room and slaps it past the diving cover fielder for a boundary. |
| 3.3 : Trent Boult to Jos Buttler, Around off, on a length, Buttler pushes it with an angled bat to point. |
| 3.4 : Trent Boult to Jos Buttler, FIVE WIDES! Runs are coming thick and fast. Trent Boult decides to bowl the effort ball. He bends his back to go short but it goes well over the batsman and the keeper for a boundary behind. |
| Trent Boult to Jos Buttler, Fuller and around off, Buttler drives it down to mid off where Williamson makes a tumbling stop. The batsmen cross as Kane scores a direct hit at the bowler's end. Buttler is safely in though. The ball deflects off the stumps towards and wrong-foots the mid-wicket fielder who was trying to back up the throw. Boult has to run and collect the ball and by then, the batsmen pick one more. |
| 3.5 : Trent Boult to Jos Buttler, Shortish and around off, angling away, Buttler swivels with his pull shot but misses. |
| 3.6 : Trent Boult to Jos Buttler, Shortish around leg, pulled down to fine leg for one. 16 from the over! |
| 4.1 : Tim Southee to Jos Buttler, Almost a drag on. Fuller and on off, Buttler tries to drive minus any footwork and inside-edges it past the stumps to fine leg. They cross. |
| 4.2 : Tim Southee to Jonny Bairstow, FOUR! Great shot! First signs of real aggression from Bairstow. This one is on a length outside off, at 135 kph, Bairstow attacks it from the middle of his blade and clubs it behind the bowler for a boundary. |
| 4.3 : Tim Southee to Jonny Bairstow, On a length again, around middle and leg, Bairstow tries to heave but misses. A stifled appeal for an lbw is not entertained by the umpire. Missing leg, perhaps. |
| 4.4 : Tim Southee to Jonny Bairstow, Pitches it up and around off, Jonny knocks it down to long on and takes a single. |
| 4.5 : Tim Southee to Jos Buttler, Southee goes short around off, Buttler drags his attempted pull shot down to fine leg for one. |
| 4.6 : Tim Southee to Jonny Bairstow, Fuller and around off, a little punch from the back foot, to the left of mid off, and a single is pinched. |
| Change. Adam Milne comes on now. |
| A bit of movement behind the bowler's arm. Jonny Bairstow stops Milne in his run-up. |
| 5.1 : Is that a clean catch? The soft signal is out. Yup, Kane Williamson has fingers under the ball. |
| Adam Milne to Jonny Bairstow, OUT! CAUGHT! Adam Milne comes and strikes straightaway. He delivers it on a length and wide outside off at 144 kph, Jonny Bairstow reaches out for it to drive it through the line but the ball hurries onto his bat. Jonny ends up mistiming it towards mid off where Kane Williamson goes down low to his left and takes a fantastic diving catch. He is claiming it but the onfield umpires want to get it checked upstairs. The soft signal is out and that will remain ou |
| 0.0 : Dawid Malan walks out to bat. |
| 5.2 : Adam Milne to Dawid Malan, On a length around leg, Malan nudges it behind square leg and opens his account with a single. |
| 5.3 : Adam Milne to Jos Buttler, Fuller and close to off, Buttler once again drives it with minimum footwork but finds the cover fielder. |
| 5.4 : Adam Milne to Jos Buttler, Milne digs it in short, around off at 91 mph, Jos stands tall to get on top of the bounce and pulls it to deep square leg for a single. |
| 5.5 : Adam Milne to Dawid Malan, Fractionally short and around leg at 85 mph, Malan sticks back to play it on the leg side but the ball skids on and strikes him high on the pads. |
| 5.6 : Adam Milne to Dawid Malan, A 90 mph delivery, on a length around leg, once again Malan fails to get any bat behind it. The ball goes off the thigh pad towards short fine leg and they cross a leg bye. At the end of the Powerplay, England are 40/1! |
| 6.1 : Ish Sodhi to Dawid Malan, Sodhi starts with a loopy ball, on the pads. Malan clips it to square leg for a single. |
| 6.2 : Ish Sodhi to Jos Buttler, Googly, around leg. Buttler works it to the leg side for one. |
| 6.3 : Ish Sodhi to Dawid Malan, Beaten! Darted across. Malan goes for the cut but it is quite close to him. He misses. |
| 0.0 : The players are out on the field. New Zealand have already taken the field. Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler stride out to bat. Tim Southee will start with the ball. But before the game begins, both teams take the knee to support the Black Lives Matter movement. Kumar Dharmasena says play. Here we go... |
| 6.4 : Ish Sodhi to Dawid Malan, This time he cuts it well. Towards deep cover for one. |
| 6.5 : Ish Sodhi to Jos Buttler, Well bowled. Buttler dances down the track so Sodhi drags his length ball. This is pushed to sweeper cover for one. |
| 6.6 : Ish Sodhi to Dawid Malan, Flatter ball, on off. Malan backs away to the leg side and pushes it to deep cover for one. |
| 0.0 : Change! Spin for the first time tonight, Ish Sodhi comes on. |
| 6.6 : Change! Spin from the other end too as Mitchell Santner is into the attack. |
| 7.1 : Mitchell Santner to Dawid Malan, Flatter ball, on off. Malan gets low and drags it to deep mid-wicket for one. |
| 7.2 : Mitchell Santner to Jos Buttler, Darted on the pads. Buttler looks to work it away but gets a leading edge. The ball goes towards covers. |
| 7.3 : Mitchell Santner to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Brilliant, brilliant execution! Flatter ball, on leg. Buttler nails the reverse sweep. The ball goes through backward point. The man from deep cover runs to his left but has no chance. |
| 7.4 : Mitchell Santner to Jos Buttler, Loopy ball, on leg. Buttler paddles it to fine leg for a couple. |
| 7.5 : Mitchell Santner to Jos Buttler, The reverse sweep again but it is not executed well. Buttler chops it towards short third man. |
| 7.6 : Mitchell Santner to Jos Buttler, Flatter ball, on leg. Worked to long on for one. So, despite the boundary, Santner goes for only 8 in his first over. |
| 8.1 : This looks dead! Buttler is a goner! He has been given out LBW. He reviews. This seems more in hope though. Big moment in the game. |
| Ish Sodhi to Jos Buttler, OUT! LBW! Three reds and Buttler walks back! A big, big wicket for New Zealand as Buttler departs after getting a good start. Loopy ball, around off, Jos looks to play the reverse sweep again but gets no bat on it. He is thudded on the pads in front of the off stump and the umpire raises the finger. Review is taken but this looks dead straight. Yup, no bat on it and three reds on the Ball Tracker! A big blow to England. |
| 8.2 : Ish Sodhi to Moeen Ali, Loopy ball, on off, Ali pushes it to long off for one. Moeen is off the mark. |
| 8.3 : Ish Sodhi to Dawid Malan, Nicely driven to the right of long off for a single. |
| 8.4 : Ish Sodhi to Moeen Ali, Flatter ball, wide outside off. Ali reaches for it and chops it towards covers. |
| 8.5 : Ish Sodhi to Moeen Ali, Full ball, on off. Worked to deep mid-wicket for a single. A good over by Sodhi so far. Can he finish well? |
| 0.0 : Moeen Ali walks out to bat! Two left-handers out there now. Will we see Glenn Phillips come on or maybe Milne for some short stuff to Moeen! Remains to be seen. |
| 8.6 : Ish Sodhi to Dawid Malan, FOUR! Once again, a boundary somewhat spoils what would have been brilliant over for New Zealand! Loopy ball, on off. Malan drives it aerially over covers. The man from long off runs to his right and even dives but the ball beats him on its way to the fence. |
| 9.1 : James Neesham to Moeen Ali, On a length, around off. Ali punches it to deep cover for one. |
| 9.2 : James Neesham to Dawid Malan, Short of a length, outside off. Malan looks to slog it across the line but misses. |
| 0.0 : Change! None of the two options we talked about as it is James Neesham who will bowl from this end. |
| 9.3 : James Neesham to Dawid Malan, Did that carry? Fuller ball, around off. Malan goes for the drive but gets the outside edge. Conway dives to his left. The ball carries to him but it is very low. It hits the left glove and rolls to third man. A chance goes begging and Neesham cannot believe it. One taken. |
| 9.4 : James Neesham to Moeen Ali, Short of a length, on off. Moeen mistimes his pull shot to mid on. |
| 9.5 : James Neesham to Moeen Ali, Short of a length, around off. Moeen Ali heaves it to deep mid-wicket for one. |
| 9.6 : James Neesham to Dawid Malan, FOUR! Gorgeous drive! Length ball, around off. Malan nails the cover drive all along the ground and it is racing away. Glenn Phillips is the man in the deep. He sprints to his left like Usain Bolt but the ball beats him. Phillips goes over the advertising board due to his momentum and falls. But he seems to be alright. |
| DRINKS! New Zealand have done really well so far! They have not let England score freely and have got the two big wickets of Buttler and Bairstow. The Kiwis need to keep the good work going though as this England team bats really deep and if the momentum shifts, the Kiwis could well be chasing a big score. Also, with 10 overs to go, what will England be looking at, they will know dew could be a factor so they would be wanting to get close to the 160 or maybe 170-run mark. Can they step up the s |
| 10.1 : Glenn Phillips to Moeen Ali, Darted around off. Ali hits it towards long off. The man collects the ball on the bounce as the batters cross. |
| 10.2 : Glenn Phillips to Dawid Malan, FOUR! Another gorgeous stroke from the bat of Malan! Flighted ball, around middle. He backs away to the leg side and lofts it over covers. The man from long off runs to his right but has no chance. |
| 10.3 : Glenn Phillips to Dawid Malan, Darted on the leg stump, Malan misses the reverse sweep and it goes very closely past the leg stump. |
| 10.4 : Glenn Phillips to Dawid Malan, FOUR! He could play that shot all day and find the boundary 9 out of 10 times! Tossed up, on off. He lifts it over covers and wide of long off for a boundary. |
| 10.5 : Glenn Phillips to Dawid Malan, Darts it on the pads, it's worked towards deep mid-wicket. Glenn Phillips chases it in anticipation of the batters looking for the second. The man from deep also sprints in and the batters settle for one. |
| 10.6 : Glenn Phillips to Moeen Ali, Shorter ball, on the pads. Ali works it to deep square leg for one. So, the Glenn Phillips experiment costs New Zealand 11 runs. |
| Change! Adam Milne is on! |
| 11.1 : Adam Milne to Moeen Ali, On a length, on off. Pushed to long on for an easy single. |
| 11.2 : Adam Milne to Dawid Malan, Brilliant, brilliant work by Glenn Phillips! Length ball, outside off. Malan nails the cover drive again. The man at cover dives but cannot stop it. It looks destined to reach the fence but Glenn Phillips is a man on a mission. He sprints hard to his left and dives to stop it. Saves a run for his team. |
| 11.3 : Adam Milne to Moeen Ali, Length ball, outside off. Punched to deep cover for one. |
| 11.4 : Adam Milne to Dawid Malan, Slips a yorker, on the pads. Malan works it to deep mid-wicket for one. |
| 11.5 : Adam Milne to Moeen Ali, Nicely bowled. Short ball, outside off. But this is a slower one. Ali is way too early into his pull shot and misses. |
| 11.6 : Adam Milne to Moeen Ali, A low full toss, wide outside off. Moeen Ali drills it to sweeper cover for one. 7 from the over. |
| 12.1 : Ish Sodhi to Moeen Ali, Shorter ball, down the leg side. Ali misses the pull. This could well be the over where he decides to step on the gas. |
| Ish Sodhi to Moeen Ali, Moeen comes down the track so Sodhi bowls it shorter. It's worked wide of long on by Moeen. Ali wants the second but Malan sends him back. |
| 0.0 : Change! Time for some leg spin as Ish Sodhi is back. 2-0-12-1 are his figures so far. |
| 12.2 : Ish Sodhi to Dawid Malan, Good stop! Flatter ball, on the pads. Malan plays the reverse sweep. Neesham dives to his left at backward point and gets his hands to it. One taken. |
| 12.3 : Ish Sodhi to Moeen Ali, Tossed up, around off. Tapped to covers for one. |
| 12.4 : Ish Sodhi to Dawid Malan, Tossed up, on leg. Malan reverse-sweeps it to short third man. Finds the fielder. A dot ball. |
| 12.5 : Ish Sodhi to Dawid Malan, Malan shuffles way across the off pole and Sodhi bowls a full toss down the leg side. Malan sweeps it to deep square leg for just a single. |
| 12.6 : Ish Sodhi to Moeen Ali, FOUR! Another boundary on the last ball of the over! Shorter ball, outside off. Moeen Ali slaps it hard. This time, the man at backward point has no chance and the ball runs away to the fence. |
| 13.1 : Adam Milne to Dawid Malan, Almost found the gap in the end! Malan makes room and Milne bangs it short and outside off, it is a slower one. Malan somehow reaches out for it and hits it wide of mid off for one. |
| 13.2 : Adam Milne to Moeen Ali, Goes fuller now and on middle, Ali swings, it goes more off the inner half through mid-wicket for one. |
| 13.3 : Adam Milne to Dawid Malan, Another short one, angling across the left-hander. Malan looks to pull but misses. |
| 13.4 : Adam Milne to Dawid Malan, Dropped! Well, if you want to call it that! This is full and on middle, it is thumped back towards the bowler extremely hard. Milne sticks his left hand out. It does not stick, hits the fingers and goes towards the left of long on who initially had run to his right. Hence, two. |
| 13.5 : Adam Milne to Dawid Malan, Fuller and on off, Malan plays it through covers for one. A good over so far but can he end it well? |
| 13.6 : Adam Milne to Moeen Ali, Yes, he does! Just a single off the last ball which brings up 100 for England. A full toss on off, a quick one. Moeen strokes it to mid off for a run. |
| Change. Trent Boult (2-0-22-0) is back on. |
| 14.1 : Trent Boult to Moeen Ali, Well bowled but nicely played too! A very full delivery, on middle, Moeen squeezes it through mid-wicket. It is in the gap and two runs taken. |
| 14.2 : Trent Boult to Moeen Ali, Lands safe! A slower one, it is the knuckle-ball. Fuller and on middle, Moeen is early as he tries to loft it. It goes more off the toe-end towards mid off. Tim Southee runs in from long off and dives forward but does not get to it. Good effort but he could not get there in time. A single. The 50-run stand comes up. |
| 14.3 : Trent Boult to Dawid Malan, Another one which lands in no man's land! A slower short ball outside off, Malan looks to slap it but once again is a touch early into the shot. He mistimes it aerially towards covers for one. |
| 14.4 : Trent Boult to Moeen Ali, FOUR! There is the boundary! Welcome one! Boult errs in line, he slips this one down the leg side. Moeen flicks it through backward square leg, and it gets to the fence in no time. |
| 14.5 : Trent Boult to Moeen Ali, Length now and on off, Ali slaps it down to long off and gets to the other end. |
| 14.6 : Change. Tim Southee (3-0-15-0) to bowl out now. |
| Trent Boult to Dawid Malan, Malan looks to play the paddle scoop but Boult digs it into the pitch and on middle, it hits Malan's arms and lobs to the right of the keeper who runs towards the ball but does not pick it up cleanly. A single in the end. |
| 15.1 : Tim Southee to Dawid Malan, SIX! All the way! The 16th over starts with a biggie! Pressure now on Southee and England will look to make this into a big over! Slightly shorter, another slower one. Malan this time waits for it and tonks it over the mid-wicket fence. |
| 15.2 : Tim Southee to Dawid Malan, OUT! EDGED AND TAKEN! Malan falls 9 short of a half ton and Southee has his revenge! The seam-up ball does the trick. It is short and outside off and Malan looks to pull. But it takes the under-edge and goes into the gloves of Conway who takes it. A good knock comes to an end. The foundation is laid for the batters to come in. |
| 15.3 : Tim Southee to Liam Livingstone, Liam Livingstone comes down the track straightaway. He works it down to long on and gets off the mark. |
| 15.4 : Tim Southee to Moeen Ali, A good yorker, outside off, inside the tramline. Ali fails to reach it. A dot. |
| 15.5 : Tim Southee to Moeen Ali, Just another run! Length and on off, Ali looks to slap but does not time it, it goes to long off for a single. |
| 15.6 : Tim Southee to Liam Livingstone, A brilliant comeback by Southee after going for a biggie on the first ball! Just the 9 from the over. A short one, hurries onto Liam Livingstone, he looks to pull, it hits the splice and lobs towards mid-wicket for one. |
| 15.2 : Who will Eoin Morgan send in now? Liam Livingstone? Sam Billings? Or will he walk in himself? Here is the big and strong Liam Livingstone. |
| 16.1 : Ish Sodhi to Liam Livingstone, WIDE! Slows it up but bowls it well wide outside off. Left alone. |
| Ish Sodhi to Liam Livingstone, Shorter and outside off, this is slapped through covers for one. |
| 16.2 : Ish Sodhi to Moeen Ali, SIX! All the way! That is a big hit! Moeen has nailed that! Comes down the track, gets to the pitch of it and smacks it over the mid-wicket fence for a huge one. |
| 0.0 : Change. Oh wow. Liam Livingstone vs Ish Sodhi should be the contest to watch out for. |
| 16.3 : Ish Sodhi to Moeen Ali, Moeen looks to go big again! Comes down the track but this time, the length is shortened. Ali swings but gets an inside edge onto the pads. |
| 16.4 : Ish Sodhi to Moeen Ali, Yet another dot! A googly, it is outside off. Ali looks to cut but misses. |
| 16.5 : Ish Sodhi to Moeen Ali, Two more! Floats it up on the pads, Ali once again looks to whip it, it goes off the inner half through square leg for two. |
| 16.6 : Ish Sodhi to Moeen Ali, A single to end another good over for England! On off, this is hit down to long off for one. |
| Change in bowling. Adam Milne (3-0-15-1) is back on. |
| 17.1 : Adam Milne to Moeen Ali, SIX! That sounded so good! That is right off the middle! Moeen Ali is on a roll now. Another over which begins with a biggie. Shorter and outside off, another slower one. Ali waits for it and smacks it over the mid-wicket fence. |
| 17.2 : Adam Milne to Moeen Ali, Wide outside off, Ali swings his bat at it. He looks to push it on the off side without much foot movement but it goes off the inner half towards long on for one. |
| 17.3 : Adam Milne to Liam Livingstone, A good short one, on the body, Liam is late into the pull shot and it goes off the under-edge towards short fine leg. A single. Milne got away with that. A short one with fine leg up is a big risk. |
| 17.4 : Adam Milne to Moeen Ali, Outside off, fuller, this is hit down to long off for one. |
| 17.5 : Adam Milne to Liam Livingstone, WIDE! That does not come out right! A slower one, well wide outside off. Left alone. |
| Adam Milne to Liam Livingstone, Had he hit that, it would have been out of the park! A slower one outside off, Liam Livingstone looks to go big over mid-wicket but misses. That was there to be hit. |
| 17.6 : Who will bowl the 19th over? Trent Boult (3-0-31-0) is back. |
| Adam Milne to Liam Livingstone, SIX! That is huge! Out of here! What a hit! Right in the slot this one. Fuller and on middle, Liam Livingstone launches it over the bowler's head for a biggie. End of a huge over. 170 now seems possible. |
| 18.1 : Trent Boult to Moeen Ali, A low full toss on middle, this is whipped through mid-wicket for one. |
| 18.2 : Trent Boult to Liam Livingstone, A fumble and two! A full toss again but this is well wide outside off. It is hit down towards long off. The fielder runs to his left and fumbles, two taken. |
| 18.3 : Trent Boult to Liam Livingstone, FOUR! Beats the dive of Guptill and the 150 is up! Outside off, Liam Livingstone hits it wide of long off. Guptill runs there and puts in a desperate dive but fails to stop it. |
| 18.4 : Trent Boult to Liam Livingstone, Another full one, outside off, Liam mistimes his attempted shot but still, it goes through point for one. |
| 18.5 : Trent Boult to Moeen Ali, A slower short ball, outside off. Ali looks to pull but misses. A dot, gold at this stage. |
| 18.6 : Trent Boult to Moeen Ali, Outside off, Ali strokes it through covers for one. Another good over for England comes to an end. |
| 19.1 : James Neesham to Moeen Ali, Singles really won't harm the Kiwis! A full one outside off, it is hit down to long off for one. |
| 18.6 : Will Kane Williamson go with a spinner in the final over? Nope, here is James Neesham. He went for 7 in his first over. |
| 19.2 : James Neesham to Liam Livingstone, OUT! Straight to the man! Liam Livingstone falls now. A single and a wicket on the first two balls of the last over. Good start from James Neesham! He bowls it really full and wide outside off, difficult to get under those. Liam Livingstone looks to power it over long off but does not get the desired elevation. He holes out to the fielder in the deep. Mitchell Santner has a safe pair of hands. |
| 19.3 : James Neesham to Moeen Ali, FOUR! This time Moeen puts it away! A full toss, outside off, Ali holds his shape and hits it over covers. Boundary. Also, fifty for Moeen! Crucial knock. His team was in trouble when he walked out and he has delivered. |
| 19.4 : James Neesham to Moeen Ali, Moeen misses out! A full toss on the pads, Ali is probably taken by surprise. He mistimes his attempted swipe across the line. It goes aerially but falls safely towards long leg. Only a single. |
| 19.5 : James Neesham to Eoin Morgan, WIDE! Extremely wide outside off, looking to stay away from the batter. Morgan lets it be. |
| James Neesham to Eoin Morgan, Fumble and two! A short ball, Morgan looks to pull, this goes off the inner half towards short fine leg. Boult fumbles. Two taken. |
| 19.2 : Who will bat now? Eoin Morgan it is. He will be at the non-striker's end. |
| 19.6 : James Neesham to Eoin Morgan, Dropped and two more! 11 from the last over. ENGLAND END WITH 166/4! A full one outside off, Morgan looks to go over covers. He ends up skying it towards the man at sweeper cover. The fielder, Glenn Phillips runs in, slips as he tries to take it, does not hang on. Two taken. |
| England did not have the best of starts with the bat. Jonny Bairstow's return to the top wasn't the best one as he fell early even Buttler got out after getting a start. The English middle order hadn't been under much pressure throughout the competition and here they were under tremendous pressure in a semi-final match. Dawid Malan held the innings together while Moeen Ali was struggling to find his timing initially. The partnership between these had given England a pretty good platform where th |
| A good effort by both the teams here. It would be tough to say which team would be happier. But, with the possibility of dew, later on, New Zealand will be quite happy with the way they bowled. This game is now nicely poised for an entertaining second half. |
| Glenn Phillips, who was a livewire in the field, comes up for a quick word. Starts by talking about when he collided with the advertising board and says that his hands are fine, just a bit niggly. Tells that it is all about going out there with a positive mindset and keeping up with the rate. Shares that he has got mixed feedback about the pitch, some skidded on and some held on. Adds that he will get a fair idea when he will go out to bat. |
| Right then. Plenty of factors will determine who goes to the final after this clash. The pitch is perhaps not the easiest to bat on but if the dew comes, New Zealand will have a fair bit of advantage. But, it is important to remember that England have even been brilliant with the ball, especially in the Powerplay. A cracking chase comes our way so do not go anywhere! |
| New Zealand had a brilliant start with the ball. Seeing the back of Bairstow and Buttler early on would have been exactly what they would have prayed for. They did bowl quite well in the middle overs too but England managed to keep ticking along at a steady rate. There were many instances where they gave a boundary on the last ball of the over and that cost them quite a bit of runs. They would be a touch disappointed with the way they finished as there were quite a few loose deliveries in the de |
| ... THE RUN CHASE ... |
| 0.1 : Chris Woakes to Martin Guptill, FOUR! Bang! Martin Guptill makes a statement on the first ball. Short in length and outside off, Guptill latches onto it and smashes it over covers. You can't afford to offer width to Martin. |
| 0.2 : Chris Woakes to Martin Guptill, Swing and a miss! Some movement there. On a length and outside off, shaping away, Guptill throws his bat at it but is beaten by the movement. |
| 0.3 : Chris Woakes to Martin Guptill, OUT! CAUGHT! Chris Woakes has delivered a dream start to England. The English boys are ecstatic. This one holds onto the pitch a little bit and that was the main reason for Guptill's undoing. Fuller one, on middle and leg at 134 kph, Martin Guptill decides to flick it off his pads but the ball comes off the pitch slowly and takes a big leading edge. It balloons towards mid on and Moeen Ali settles underneath it. |
| Kane Williamson finds himself in much, much earlier than he would have liked. |
| 0.5 : Chris Woakes to Kane Williamson, Nervy start for Kane! Back of a length, outside off and nipping away late, Williamson stands back and tries to punch but misses. |
| 0.6 : Chris Woakes to Kane Williamson, Chris goes fuller and around off, Williamson flicks it wide of mid on and the ball speeds away. It keeps on hurrying along the turf as the mid on fielder gives the chase. The ball starts to slow down a bit and Sam Billings, running across to his left, from deep mid-wicket slides to stop the ball. The batsmen pick three runs. A mixed-bag first over. |
| 0.4 : Chris Woakes to Daryl Mitchell, Fuller one, on middle and leg again, Daryl Mitchell does well to flick it in the gap at mid-wicket for a run. |
| 0.6 : Chris Jordan is set to steam in. |
| 1.1 : Chris Jordan to Kane Williamson, Jordan starts with a short ball outside off at 132 kph, Kane goes on his toes but plays a mistimed punch to covers. |
| 1.2 : Chris Jordan to Kane Williamson, Pitches it up and outside off, at 136 kph, Kane is forward as he plays a confident drive to mid off. |
| 1.3 : Chris Jordan to Kane Williamson, Almost a drag on. Jordan lands it on a length and outside off, shaping away, Williamson is a bit loose there, tries to force the issue off the back foot to covers but gets an inside edge. It beats the stumps and dribbles towards the keeper. |
| 1.4 : Chris Jordan to Kane Williamson, Good length, on middle, Kane works it in front of square leg and picks up a single. |
| 1.5 : Chris Jordan to Daryl Mitchell, Another three. Chris Jordan is too straight with his line, Daryl Mitchell flicks it through mid-wicket and finds the gap. Liam Livingstone chases it to his left in the deep, slides to stop the ball and when he gets up, he loses his balance. His weight pushes him beyond the boundary line but Liam has released the ball before that. Smart work. |
| 1.6 : Chris Jordan to Kane Williamson, A length ball on middle, worked in the gap at mid-wicket for one. |
| 2.1 : Chris Woakes to Kane Williamson, A touch short around middle and leg, Kane Williamson tucks it off his pads but finds short fine leg. Woakes gets away with a poor delivery, either side of short 45 and that would have been a boundary. |
| 2.2 : Chris Woakes to Kane Williamson, Around off and a bit short, Kane walks forward and then tries to dab it down but gets a bottom edge. The ball rolls softly near the stumps. |
| 2.3 : Chris Woakes to Kane Williamson, Fuller and on middle, angling down at 132 kph, Kane fails to flick and is hit on the pads. No appeal as it's going down. |
| 2.5 : Chris Woakes to Daryl Mitchell, Beaten! Beauty by Chris. Serves it on a length and close to off, seaming away, Daryl Mitchell is caught pushing and missing inside the line. |
| 2.4 : New Zealand are in some trouble here. Devon Conway is in the middle now. |
| Chris Woakes to Kane Williamson, OUT! CAUGHT! Massive moment in this match, Kane Williamson is gone. England are celebrating big, they know the value of this wicket. The accumulator for New Zealand, the talisman, Kane flops in a big semi-final. Woakes has picked two big wickets in his opening spell. He delivers it on a length around off at 133 kph, Kane Williamson tries to be funky with his attempted paddle scoop. Walks across the stumps but only manages to spoon it from the outer portion |
| 2.6 : Chris Woakes to Daryl Mitchell, On a length around off, Mitchell mistimes his shot to the off side. A wicket maiden for Chris Woakes! |
| 3.1 : Chris Jordan to Devon Conway, Play and a miss! Short in length and wide outside off, Conway has a lazy poke at it, away from his body, and he misses. |
| 3.2 : Chris Jordan to Devon Conway, Angling into the batsman, on a length around off, at 140 kph, Devon defends it back from the crease. |
| 3.3 : Chris Jordan to Devon Conway, Another play and a miss. This one is on a length and outside off, Devon Conway tries to slap it through the line but fails to connect. |
| 3.4 : Chris Jordan to Devon Conway, Wide! Sliding down the leg side, a bit on the shorter side, Conway tries to work it down to fine leg but misses. |
| Chris Jordan to Devon Conway, No timing at all. England have tightened the screws very early in the game. Short ball, around off at 140 kph, Conway is early into the pull shot and bottom-edges it in the direction of the bowler. |
| 3.5 : Chris Jordan to Devon Conway, The batsman has just blocked that from his crease. What an over, so far! |
| 3.6 : Chris Jordan to Devon Conway, FOUR! One bounce into the boundary. Jordan serves it on a length and outside off, this time Conway stays composed rather than loose, brings his bat down properly and lofts it over covers for a boundary. Will this break the shackles? |
| 4.1 : Chris Woakes to Daryl Mitchell, Aerial... Fuller and around off, slower in pace at 117 kph, Mitchell is early into the shot and goes through with it. He mistimes it in the air but it goes straight behind the bowler and lands in no man's land. Two runs taken. |
| 4.2 : Chris Woakes to Daryl Mitchell, FOUR! Easy pickings! Angling down the leg side, on a length, Daryl Mitchell flicks it firmly and behind square leg for a boundary. |
| 4.3 : Chris Woakes to Daryl Mitchell, Back of a length on middle, Daryl brings down a straight bat and pushes it to long on for a run. Perfect from Mitchell after finding the boundary. New Zealand need a partnership at the moment. |
| 4.4 : Chris Woakes to Devon Conway, Around off on a length, angling away, Devon tries to push it through the line but gets an inside edge past the stumps to short fine leg. He looks for a run but is sent back. |
| 4.5 : Chris Woakes to Devon Conway, Risky single. On a good length and in the line of the stumps, Conway walks forward and forces it towards mid off for a quick run. Chris Jordan misses his shy at the bowler's end otherwise it would have been close. The replays show that Devon had to run around Woakes and that could have cost him in case of a direct hit. |
| 4.6 : Chris Woakes to Daryl Mitchell, Fuller and on middle, Daryl Mitchell covers the line and defends it back. Woakes has bowled three overs from his quota of 4. 2/16 so far. |
| Change. Adil Rashid comes on now. |
| 5.1 : Adil Rashid to Devon Conway, FOUR! Devon Conway greets the leggie with a boundary. Adil Rashid tries to begin his spell with a googly but it's on the shorter side around off, Devon gets back and smacks it through the gap at cover-point for a boundary. Finding the placement was the key and it was done with aplomb by Conway. |
| 5.2 : Adil Rashid to Devon Conway, Floated and full around off, Devon presents a straight bat and drives it down the ground for a single. |
| 5.3 : Adil Rashid to Daryl Mitchell, Appeal for an lbw, but it lacks the desired conviction. Tossed up around off, fuller in length and it's a googly. Daryl Mitchell tries to defend but misses and is hit on the pads. The appeal is not successfully as it might be spinning down and missing the stumps. |
| 5.4 : Adil Rashid to Daryl Mitchell, Fuller and on middle, forced down to long on for a single. |
| 5.5 : Adil Rashid to Devon Conway, Flighted and around leg, Devon Conway misses out there as he fails to connect with his attempted sweep shot. |
| 5.6 : Adil Rashid to Devon Conway, FOUR! Glorious! Devon Conway is one of the best batters against spin in the New Zealand camp. He proves it with this shot. Adil Rashid floats it up around off and lands it full, Conway wears his skates to run down the track, reaches the pitch of the ball perfectly and crunches it through the gap between extra cover and mid off. It races away to the fence. At the end of the Powerplay, New Zealand are 36/2, needing 131 more for a win. |
| Change. Mark Wood comes on now. |
| 6.1 : Mark Wood to Daryl Mitchell, A touch short and around off, Daryl Mitchell makes space and taps it down towards backward point. |
| 6.2 : Mark Wood to Daryl Mitchell, Gets behind the line of the delivery pushes it towards the bowler without much conviction. |
| 6.3 : Mark Wood to Daryl Mitchell, Short of a length, on off. Daryl Mitchell pulls it wide of long on for a couple. |
| 6.4 : Mark Wood to Daryl Mitchell, No man's land! Short ball, on off. Daryl Mitchell goes for the pull but gets the top edge. The ball goes towards fine leg. Buttler runs for it and the man from the boundary runs in but it lands between them. One taken. |
| 6.5 : Mark Wood to Devon Conway, On a length, around off. Conway looks to drive but gets the outside edge. The ball goes to third man for one. |
| 6.6 : Mark Wood to Daryl Mitchell, Length ball, on off. Punched to mid off for one. Easy single but Eoin Morgan would not mind this one bit. |
| 7.1 : Adil Rashid to Daryl Mitchell, Flatter ball, on leg. Daryl Mitchell reverse-sweeps it towards backward point. |
| 7.2 : Adil Rashid to Daryl Mitchell, Attempts another reverse sweep but gets no bat on it this time. |
| 7.3 : Adil Rashid to Daryl Mitchell, Darted on the pads. Eased to long on for one. |
| 7.4 : Adil Rashid to Devon Conway, Tossed up, on off. Devon Conway drives it nicely to long on for one. |
| 7.5 : Adil Rashid to Daryl Mitchell, Shorter ball, on off. Daryl Mitchell rocks back but pulls it straight towards deep mid-wicket for one. |
| 7.6 : Adil Rashid to Devon Conway, The struggle for New Zealand continues. Loopy ball, on off. Conway comes down the track and heaves it to long on for one. |
| 8.1 : Mark Wood to Devon Conway, Length ball, outside off. Conway comes down the track to drive but gets no bat on it. |
| 8.2 : Mark Wood to Devon Conway, Short ball, on the pads. Pulled to fine leg for one. |
| 8.3 : Mark Wood to Daryl Mitchell, Short ball again, on off. Mitchell looks to pull but the ball goes over him. Was there some edge? Morgan has a word with Buttler but a review is not taken. |
| 8.4 : Mark Wood to Daryl Mitchell, Yet another single for New Zealand! Mark Wood bowls the hard length, on off. This is hit to wide mid off for one. |
| 8.5 : Mark Wood to Devon Conway, Shortish and outside off, some extra pace there, Conway is caught in an awkward position as he keeps it out to covers. They cross for a run. The fielder underarms it at the keeper's end and finds the stumps as well but Daryl Mitchell is well in. |
| 8.6 : Mark Wood to Daryl Mitchell, Short of a length, on off. Daryl Mitchell pulls it to long on. There is a direct hit at the bowler's end and the ball rolls away towards covers after that. The batters take one more. 5 from the over and the required rate is creeping up towards 11 now. |
| 9.1 : Liam Livingstone to Devon Conway, Good start by Liam Livingstone! Flatter and outside off, Conway looks to sweep but misses. The keeper does the rest. |
| 9.2 : Liam Livingstone to Devon Conway, Outside off, Conway hits it through covers but just for one. |
| 0.0 : Liam Livingstone comes on now. New Zealand will have to go after him to reduce the margin between balls and runs. |
| 9.3 : Liam Livingstone to Daryl Mitchell, Flatter and quicker, on off, this is pushed down to long on for one. |
| 9.4 : Liam Livingstone to Devon Conway, Two! Still no boundaries! Conway comes down the track, does not quite get to the pitch of the ball. Conway looks to loft it over covers but due to the turn, it goes more off the outer half towards sweeper cover for two. |
| 9.5 : Liam Livingstone to Devon Conway, FOUR! This will help the Kiwis' cause! They need a lot more though. Conway dances down, gets to the pitch of it and lofts it down the ground. Long off is quite wide and it goes to the fence. |
| 9.6 : Liam Livingstone to Devon Conway, Nails the reverse sweep but does not find the gap! On off, Conway hits it hard but to backward point. A dot to end. 8 from Liam Livingstone's first. 109 needed in 60. |
| Drinks! New Zealand will need to step on the gas soon now. The start for England has been brilliant and that leaves New Zealand with no choice but to take some extra risks in the middle phase of the game. If it works out, then batters like Glenn Phillips and James Neesham will fancy themselves in finishing the chase. Otherwise, England would play in the final on Sunday. |
| 10.1 : Mark Wood to Daryl Mitchell, FOUR! Powered! A boundary after the break, just what the Kiwis needed! On middle, length. Mitchell clears his front leg and smacks it past the bowler. It goes screaming away to the boundary. |
| 10.2 : Mark Wood to Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell would feel he missed out! This is into his strong area, it is angled into the pads. Mitchell looks to flick but misses. It hits him on the pad and rolls beside the wicket. They cross and it's given as a run. |
| 10.3 : Mark Wood to Devon Conway, NO BALL! Not what England wanted but Kiwis will be delighted. They have a Free Hit but they need to make use of it. This is short and on the body. Conway looks to pull but misses. It hits the pads and rolls on the leg side. A leg bye. Can Mitchell take advantage of the Free Hit? |
| Mark Wood to Daryl Mitchell, Just a single from the Free Hit! Angled into the body, Mitchell shuffles back and looks to heave it, he gets an inside edge onto the pads. It rolls behind the wickets for one. |
| 10.4 : Mark Wood to Devon Conway, SIX! Over the fence! Is this the momentum shifting over? Well, 14 from it with a ball to go. What a shot this is! Conway skips down the track. This is banged in short. Conway upper-cuts it and it flies over the point fence for a biggie. Kane Williamson is on his feet in the dugout, applauding the shot. |
| 10.5 : Mark Wood to Devon Conway, A single now! Quicker, Wood really bends his back on this one. Conway taps it to point for one. |
| 10.6 : Mark Wood to Daryl Mitchell, A dot to end but a big over for the Kiwis. Welcome one. 94 needed in 9. A short one on middle, Mitchell looks to ramp it but is beaten for pace. |
| 11.1 : Liam Livingstone to Devon Conway, Quicker and fuller outside off, Conway looks to sweep but misses. |
| 11.2 : Liam Livingstone to Devon Conway, Run out chance! Not taken! Liam fires it in outside off. Conway jams it out to short third man and takes off for a run. He is sent back. Rashid puts in a wayward throw towards the keeper and Conway makes it back in time. |
| 11.3 : Liam Livingstone to Devon Conway, Good running! On middle, this is heaved towards wide mid on. Two taken. |
| 11.4 : Liam Livingstone to Devon Conway, Good stop! Conway skips down the track and hits it hard back towards the bowler who does well to stop it with one hand. Saves at least one run for his side. |
| 11.5 : Liam Livingstone to Devon Conway, FOUR! Through the covers! Once again a boundary just as the pressure was building! Outside off and fuller. Conway gets it past covers. This one races away to the fence. |
| 11.6 : Liam Livingstone to Devon Conway, A single to end! So despite the boundary, just the 7 from the over. On middle, this is swept through mid-wicket for one. |
| 12.1 : Adil Rashid to Devon Conway, Slightly shorter and outside off, Conway chops it to point for one. Really smartly bowled, Slowed it up nicely. |
| 0.0 : Change. Adil Rashid (2-0-14-0) is back on. |
| 12.2 : Adil Rashid to Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell will be very disappointed he did not put that away! This is very short and into the pads. Probably holds a touch on the surface! Mitchell is way too early into the pull shot, it hits the pad and rolls towards short third man for one. Leg bye. |
| 12.3 : Adil Rashid to Devon Conway, Now a googly but down the leg side. Conway sweeps, it comes more off the gloves, goes fine on the leg side for two. |
| 12.4 : Adil Rashid to Devon Conway, Now Devon plays the reverse sweep, he does hit it well but to short third man for only a run. |
| 12.5 : Adil Rashid to Daryl Mitchell, SIX! That though was a tremendous effort from Jordan! What an athlete that guy is! He just could not hang onto it in the end! This is tossed up nicely, it is full and on off. Mitchell lofts it down the ground towards long off. Jordan leaps, he stretches one hand up. He never went for the catch and always wanted to push it back inside. Initially, it did seem like he saved 5 for his side but the replays show that it hit his hand and then lands on the ropes. Fi |
| 12.6 : Adil Rashid to Daryl Mitchell, A single to end the over! 12 from it! On middle, this is pulled through square leg. Two taken. |
| 13.1 : Liam Livingstone to Daryl Mitchell, A very full one, on off. Daryl Mitchell hits it to long on for one. |
| 13.2 : Liam Livingstone to Devon Conway, Loopy ball, on off. Conway hits it to the right of long on for a couple. |
| 13.3 : Liam Livingstone to Devon Conway, Did that carry? Flatter ball, on off. Conway hits it hard back to the bowler. The ball goes very low to Liam Livingstone. He gets his right hand down but cannot grab it. Maybe, that bounced in front. |
| 13.4 : Liam Livingstone to Devon Conway, OUT! STUMPED! Liam Livingstone does it! The pressure was building up and it results in a wicket. Liam Livingstone fires this outside off. Conway is down the track to drive but gets no bat on it. Jos Buttler does the rest behind the stumps and New Zealand are in big, big trouble now. They need 72 in 38 balls and Glenn Phillips walks out to bat. |
| 13.5 : Liam Livingstone to Glenn Phillips, Full ball, on off. Glenn Phillips misses the drive. Jos Buttler takes the bails off but he does not have the ball in his hand. It goes to short third man and they cross for a run. |
| 13.6 : Liam Livingstone to Daryl Mitchell, Flatter ball, on off. Punched past covers for one. |
| 14.1 : Mark Wood to Daryl Mitchell, Back of a length, around off, Daryl Mitchell steps back and slaps it down to long off for a run. |
| 14.2 : Mark Wood to Glenn Phillips, Again it's on the shorter side around off, Glenn taps it down to cover-point and rotates the strike. |
| 14.3 : Mark Wood to Daryl Mitchell, 100 up! Shortish and around off, at 91 mph, Mitchell backs away to heave it over the leg side but ends up slicing it down to third man for two. Singles or doubles won't do it for the Blackcaps. They need to find the boundaries. |
| 14.4 : Mark Wood to Daryl Mitchell, FOUR! The quicker you bowl, the faster you travel. Wood goes short and sharp around off, Daryl Mitchell looks to pull but only manages a top edge. It flies behind the keeper and finds the fence. New Zealand won't mind how they come as long as they come. |
| 14.5 : Mark Wood to Daryl Mitchell, Follows the batsman down the leg side with a 151 kph short delivery, Daryl Mitchell plays a mistimed pull to deep square leg for a single. |
| 14.6 : Mark Wood to Glenn Phillips, Spears in a full ball around off, Glenn Phillips forces it out to the right of mid on and takes a single. Chris Jordan came up with a good sliding stop inside the ring. |
| 15.1 : Liam Livingstone to Glenn Phillips, OUT! CAUGHT! Liam Livingstone is doing with the ball, gets his second wicket and removes the dangerous Glenn Phillips. A floated delivery, pitching fuller and around middle, perhaps a leg spinner, Phillips winds up for a big heave over the leg side but gets a massive top edge on it. The ball flies down to long off and Sam Billings takes the simplest of catches. The wheels are coming off for the Kiwis. 60 needed off 29 balls. |
| 0.0 : The game is slipping away from New Zealand. They need someone to play a blinder of an innings here. Can James Neesham do that? |
| 15.2 : Liam Livingstone to Daryl Mitchell, Flighted and full, around off and spinning away, Daryl throws his bat at it but fails to connect. |
| 15.3 : Liam Livingstone to Daryl Mitchell, Quicker and flatter, full and outside off, Daryl Mitchell tries to play the reverse-batted shot but misses. |
| 15.4 : Liam Livingstone to Daryl Mitchell, Beaten again! Liam Livingstone is all over Daryl Mitchell at the moment. Dishes out a leg spinner, outside off, Daryl has not picked it, tries to drive but misses. |
| 15.5 : Liam Livingstone to Daryl Mitchell, A bit straighter from Liam, it's worked in the gap at mid-wicket for a single. |
| 15.6 : Liam Livingstone to James Neesham, Wide! Slips a full ball down the leg side, Neesham sees it through to the keeper. |
| Liam Livingstone to James Neesham, Loopy and full around off, Neesham drags his attempted slog-sweep to deep mid-wicket. A single to close a terrific over. What a spell from Liam Livingstone - 4-0-22-2! |
| Change in bowling. Chris Jordan (2-0-16-0)Â is back on. |
| 16.1 : Chris Jordan to James Neesham, SIX! Bang! On a length, on the pads. Neesham lines himself up and heaves it way over the mid-wicket fence. |
| 16.2 : Chris Jordan to James Neesham, Full ball, on the pads. James Neesham misses the whip. The ball hits his pads and rolls away. Buttler chases it by going towards deep square and they get two leg byes. |
| 16.3 : Chris Jordan to James Neesham, WIDE! Pressure getting to Jordan here! Down the leg side. Way down the leg side. Left alone. Morgan has a word with his bowler. |
| Chris Jordan to James Neesham, FOUR! Thumped! This is a huge over! On middle, once again, the bowler misses the spot. It is thumped down to the long on fence for a boundary. This is outstanding batting from Neesham. |
| 16.4 : Chris Jordan to James Neesham, WIDE! This is not good, not what is expected from Jordan! He is so good at death but that is what pressure can do to you. Looks to bowl the slower one but bowls it well wide outside off. Left alone. |
| Chris Jordan to James Neesham, SIX! BAIRSTOW'S KNEE HAS TOUCHED THE ROPES! That is what he was worried about and that is a maximum for Neesham. Yet another one and he has got New Zealand back into the game. Heart in the mouth stuff for Neesham there. A slower one. this is dragged towards wide long on. The timing is not there. Bairstow runs towards the ball, takes it and as he falls down, he does so behind the ropes but tosses the ball to Livingstone who catches it and releases the throw. J |
| Is that a catch? The soft signal is out. Hang on, it is a six. Jonny Bairstow's knee touched the ropes while collecting the catch. |
| 16.5 : Chris Jordan to James Neesham, That lands in between the two fielders! On middle, Neesham once again looks to loft it over the leg side. Does not connect that well. Liam Livingstone runs to his right from deep mid-wicket. Jonny Bairstow runs to his left from long on but both do not go for the catch. Two in the end. Jordan can't believe it. |
| 16.6 : Chris Jordan to James Neesham, Fuller and on middle, Neesham, swings, it goes off the inner half through square leg for one. End of a huge over, the game has changed in the favour of the Kiwis now. 34 needed off 18 balls. |
| 17.1 : Adil Rashid to James Neesham, Shorter ball, on off. Chopped to long off. Daryl Mitchell gets in the way of Adil Rashid so he does not take the single. So good to see in such a crunch situation. |
| 0.0 : Change in bowling. Adil Rashid (3-0-25-0) is back on. |
| 17.2 : Adil Rashid to James Neesham, SIX! There she goes! Neesham is playing a gem of an innings here for New Zealand! Tossed up, googly and on off. Neesham gets low and slog-sweeps it over the mid-wicket fence. |
| 17.3 : Adil Rashid to James Neesham, Direct hit and Neesham would have been gone! Shorter ball, on off. He cuts it to covers and takes off for one. The fielder misses his shy at the bowler's end so Neesham is safe. |
| 17.4 : Adil Rashid to Daryl Mitchell, SIX! All the way! Oh, how the momentum has changed in the last 10 balls! A short ball by Adil Rashid. Daryl Mitchell rocks back and pulls it way over the long on fence. 21 needed from 14 now. |
| 17.5 : Adil Rashid to Daryl Mitchell, Flatter ball, outside off. Daryl Mitchell slaps it towards long off for one. They think for the second but settle for one. |
| 17.6 : Adil Rashid to James Neesham, OUT! TAKEN! The googly of Adil Rashid does it! He bowls it shorter and outside off. James Neesham looks to cut it away but gets it from the outer half of the bat. The ball goes aerially to the right of extra cover. Eoin Morgan moves to that side and takes it with ease. 20 needed in the last 2 overs! |
| 18.1 : Chris Woakes to Daryl Mitchell, Good running! Two taken! Shorter and on middle, this is slapped straight down the ground. They take one, go for the second. Complete it. |
| 17.6 : Mitchell Santner will bat now. We are headed for a thrilling finish, folks. Chris Woakes will bowl the penultimate over. He has been the man with the ball for Eoin Morgan. Can he deliver here? |
| 18.2 : Chris Woakes to Daryl Mitchell, SIX! Daryl Mitchell, you beauty! After Neesham's wicket, the onus is now on him and he is providing the late kick. Not good bowling though from England. It is on a length and on middle, this is thumped over the long on fence for a biggie. 12 needed in 10. New Zealand's game to lose. |
| 18.3 : Chris Woakes to Daryl Mitchell, SIX! BANG! Daryl Mitchell is in a hurry now to end this. He is just a big hit away! Short and on middle, sits up to be hit. Mitchell nails the pull and it goes over the mid-wicket fence. |
| 18.4 : Chris Woakes to Daryl Mitchell, Five more needed! A short one, on middle, Daryl Mitchell pulls, this time he does not get on top of the bounce. It goes off the top edge but lands well short of deep square leg for one. |
| Eoin Morgan is in discussion with Chris Woakes. Does the pacer have one more trick up his sleeve? |
| 18.5 : Chris Woakes to Mitchell Santner, Shorter in length and on middle, Santner now pulls it towards deep square leg for one. Singles will do it now for the Kiwis. |
| 18.6 : Chris Woakes to Daryl Mitchell, FOUR! Mitchell though wants to end it in style and he does so! NEW ZEALAND HAVE BEATEN THE FINALIST OF THE LAST EDITION AND HEAD TO THEIR MAIDEN T20 WORLD CUPÂ FINAL! A high full toss, on middle and leg, Mitchell swings, it goes off the inner half through backward square leg. Boundary. New Zealand win by 5 wickets. |
| England will be shell-shocked. It was their game to lose till the start of the last five overs and some very average bowling at the death has cost them a chance to play in the final. James Neesham targeted Chris Jordan in the 17th over and New Zealand amassed 23 runs from it and that turned out to be the momentum stealer. The Blackcaps rode the momentum from thereon and demolished the target in the end. |
| Earlier in the match, after being asked to bat first, England didn't get the desired start. Losing Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler resulted in zero fluency for them, especially in the first half. The English team clawed their way back through the partnership between Moeen Ali and Dawid Malan and then the former made sure England crossed the 160-run mark. However, the match didn't end the way they planned as they lost the plot completely during the chase in the end overs. |
| Presentation time... |
| No prizes for guessing, Daryl Mitchell is the Player of the Match! The Kiwi opener says that it was a little whirlwind. He adds that he is just happy to get the job done in the end. Mentions that the pitch was a little two-paced at the start and the innings by Conway set the platform and Neesham with his hitting from ball one helped them. Adds that they wanted to hang in there and they knew that one or two good overs will help them to get the job done. He signs off by saying that it is cool |
| The chips were down in the New Zealand camp. The required rate was alarmingly high. The chance to play in the final was fast slipping away. It was a pitch that demanded application and bravery. Daryl Mitchell showed both the qualities and James Neesham's arrival injected fresh momentum into the chase for the Kiwis. His sparkling cameo brought the required rate down drastically and then Mitchell took over. He stayed unbeaten and steered the Kiwis to victory with 6 balls to spare in the end. Unbel |
| Eoin Morgan, the captain of England, says that coming into the game they knew that both sides were really good and credits Kane Williamson and his team for the way they played. Praises his team by saying that they fought really hard in the tournament and even in this game, but it wasn't their day. Says that it is hard to identify the key moments where they lost the game but feels that they lost the momentum in the last few overs. Shares that it was a sluggish wicket and offered a bit to the sp |
| Kane Williamson, the victorious captain of New Zealand, says that they have played England on a number of occasions and they knew it was going to be a great game of cricket. Adds that England had a good total on the board but staying in the game was the key. Praises Daryl Mitchell and the character that he has shown throughout the tournament. Confesses that they were probably a little behind the curve but the momentum shifted at the right time. Praises James Neesham and says that it was a val |
| That's a wrap to this exhilarating see-saw contest. We have got our first finalist in New Zealand. Do join us on Thursday for the clash between Australia and Pakistan in Dubai to find out the second finalist. The action will begin at 6 pm local (2 pm GMT) but you can join us in advance for the build-up. Cheers! |
| NEW ZEALAND ARE IN THE FINAL! They have done it. They have avenged their loss against England by knocking them out of the 2021 T20 World Cup. The pain of Lord's, the ghost of Lord's that haunted the Blackcaps has been buried here in Abu Dhabi. What a match! What a victory! Daryl Mitchell has emerged as the unlikely hero for the Kiwis and they are over the moon. The Kiwi dugout is jumping in joy. You can feel the excitement in the air. |
| To be honest, it appeared that it's not the night for New Zealand. Their chase started on the wrong note as they lost two of the most experienced batters in Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson fairly early and cheaply. The 82-run stand between Daryl Mitchell and Devon Conway brought a ray of hope in the New Zealand camp but the departure of the latter put immense pressure on them. Mitchell did spend some time in the middle but he was not at his fluent best and struggled for timing. That was one h |
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